One of the most acclaimed novels of the last few years is coming to screens in 2023, as Netflix is behind an adaptation of Anthony Doerr's World War II story All the Light We Cannot See. The Pulitzer Prize-winning book will stream on the platform as a four-part limited series.
A Netflix veteran is serving as the creative force behind the project — Shawn Levy. Levy has produced hit Netflix series like Stranger Things and Shadow and Bone, while also directing episodes of Stranger Things and The Adam Project (he also was the director Free Guy). He is serving in both those capacities again for All the Light We Cannot See, directing all four episodes, but also helped develop the limited series alongside Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Great Expectations).
With the acclaim of the book and the pedigree involved in the project, All the Light We Cannot see is bound to be one of the buzziest TV shows of the fall. So here's everything we know about it to keep up to date with it.
All the Light We Cannot See release date
All the Light We Cannot see is set to premiere on Netflix Thursday, November 2. There are going to be four episodes in the limited series, all of which are expected to be available immediately, allowing subscribers to watch at their own pace.
All the Light We Cannot See plot
All the Light We Cannot See follows two separate stories during World War II that focus on courage, hope and human connection. Here is the synopsis from Netflix:
"The series tracks the two protagonists' seemingly parallel journeys as they make their way to the French coastal town of Saint-Malo, where their stories eventually intersect. Blind French girl Marie-Laure escapes German-occupied Paris with her father in an effort to safeguard a priceless diamond from a Nazi Gestapo officer, and the two find refuge in her reclusive uncle's seaside home.
"Meanwhile, in Germany, young orphan Werner discovers that he has a rare gift for radio repairs. Enlisted by Hitler's regime, he's put to work tracking illegal broadcasts but finds none — until one day, a girl's voice crackles to life on a defunct frequency he used to tune into as a child. As the bombs fall on Saint-Malo, Werner and Marie-Laure's invisible bond over the airwaves is put to the test. Can they survive with their faith in mankind intact?"
All the Light We Cannot See cast
The cast for All the Light We Cannot See is a mix of recognizable names and young talent just getting into their careers. On the former, Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk in the MCU, Spotlight) and Hugh Laurie (House, Avenue 5) headline things, along with Lars Eidinger (Irma Vep, White Noise) and Marion Bailey (Obsession, The Crown). Ruffalo stars as Daniel LeBlanc, Laurie plays Etienne LeBlanc, Eidinger is the Gestapo officer Von Rumpel and Bailey plays Madame Manec.
Two of the story's most crucial roles are played by newcomers Aria Mia Loberti, who is making screen debut with the limited series, and Louis Hofmann, whose biggest previous role was in the Netflix original series Dark. Loberti, who is a blind/low vision actress, is playing Marie-Laure LeBlanc, while Hoffman plays Werner Pfennig, the characters brought together by the radio broadcast.
A younger version of Marie-Laure is being played by Nell Sutton
All the Light We Cannot See trailer
The first trailer for the anticipated limited series is here. There is no dialogue spoken in the trailer but playing in the background is the tune of "Clair de Lune" by famous French composer Claude Debussy.
In addition, with one of the story's main characters being blind, Netflix has released a version of the trailer that includes audio description for the bling/low vision communities.
Both are available below. Here is the trailer without audio description:
And here is the trailer with audio description:
