The first episode of His Dark Materials  -- a co-production between HBO and BBC -- drew a huge amount of interest, attracting 7.2 million viewers when it premiered on BBC One, immediately asserting itself as one of the channel’s biggest dramas of 2019.

His Dark Materials outdrew the debuts of other highly rated 2019 BBC dramas including Gentleman Jack (5.1 million), Baptiste (4.5 million) and Les Miserable (4.5 million). In fact, only the first episode of Line of Duty outdrew His Dark Materials with an impressive 7.8 million.

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The series is based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved trilogy, which follows a young woman named Lyra. Leaving the only place she knew as home, Lyra journeys out to find her kidnapped friend, which leads her to uncover the sinister plot of a secret organization as she crosses paths with extraordinary beings and dangerous secrets.

His Dark Materials airs Sundays on the BBC in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Episodes air the next day in the United States on HBO. The series is written by Jack Thorne and stars Dafne Keen as Lyra, Ruth Wilson as Marisa Coulter, James McAvoy as Lord Asriel and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby.

RELATED: HBO's His Dark Materials Has Already Filmed Season 2

(via Deadline)