DailyMail – As Charles Dickens ended the final chapter of Great Expectations, he probably had no idea that his tale of one boy’s climb from pauper to gentleman would be so timeless.
For the last 151 years, readers have been captivated by Pip’s story, and the often terrifying characters he met along the way.
From shady criminals to cruel family members, a terrifying old woman mummified in her own misery to a girl trained from toddlerhood to tease and torment, there are few stories with such a cast of unforgettable characters.

So it’s no surprise that Dickens’ vivid yarn has been given another big screen adaption, due for release in time for Christmas.
Directed by Mike Newell, viewers are transported back to Victorian London, where factories coughed acrid smoke in to the air, criminals were shipped off to Australia and the divide between the well to do and the lower classes was vast.

The film focuses on Pip, played by Jeremy Irvine, and Holliday Granger, who puts in a blood-chilling performance as the heartless objects of his affections, Estella.
In an exclusive clip from the film, it is clear that the two young leads have managed to capture the tension and indignation that undercurrent the two characters perfectly.
In the clip, Jeremy who previously starred in War Horse and Holliday, who has been seen on the small screen in Waterloo Road and Casualty, are seen arguing after Pip realises the woman he loves is now involved with a love rival, Bentley Drummle.
Dressed in Victorian finery, the two characters argue in the shadow of a grand house, and Pip realises that despite a wealthy secret benefactor, he will never be good enough for the cruel-hearted Estella.

Ralph Fiennes is terrifying as Magwitch, the escaped convict who looms over Pip’s life, while Jason Flemyng’s Joe, Pip’s kindly brother-in-law and the only father figure he’s ever known, is as patient as loving as Dickens could have envisioned.
But it’s Helena Bonham Carter’s turn as the most iconic character from the book, Miss. Haversham, the bitter spinster who has never removed her wedding dress since she was left at the altar in her youth and now sits surrounded by her rotting wedding feast in her dilapidated mansion, that will stay with viewers the longest.

The 46-year old actress has spoken out about her initial reservations about taking on the role.
She said: ‘At the point when I was offered it I felt a bit young, and then Mike said, “No, no, if you look at the book she is actually your age.” And I said “Oh great! Okay!”
‘She really is an incredible character. I kept wondering how does anyone end up being so psychologically grief-struck?’

Source: DailyMail

>> Watch the trailer below, or click here to watch and view stills! <<