Sherlock and Fleabag actor Andrew Scott is the latest big name to sign up for His Dark Materials, the BBC and HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman's epic fantasy trilogy.

Scott will play Colonel John Parry, a.k.a. Doctor Stanislaus Grumman, the father of one of the series' main characters, Will Parry, who's being portrayed by rising star Amir Wilson (The Kid Who Would Be King).

The series broke the news on its official Instagram by sharing a photo of Scott with fellow cast member Lin-Manuel Miranda.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1WY0qPlloi/

Scott won't actually appear in His Dark Materials until its second season. But season one, due to premiere over the holiday period, is hardly lacking in talent. James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, and Peaky Blinders' Helen McCrory lead the ensemble cast.

Season one is based on the first book in the trilogy, The Golden Compass (or Northern Lights, as it was known in some countries), which was previously made into a 2007 movie starring Daniel Craig.

His Dark Materials takes place in an alternative world where humans have animal companions called "dæmons," which are the manifestation of the human soul. The story centers on a young orphan girl called Lyra (Logan's Dafne Keen) who happens upon a dark secret involving Lord Asriel (McAvoy) and Marisa Coulter (Wilson).

His Dark Materials is written by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, National Treasure) and its executive producers include Julie Gardner, who worked on Doctor Who and Torchwood during the Russell T Davies era.

In the meantime, we'll see Scott in Sam Mendes' war movie 1917, which opens December 25. His co-stars in that one include his old Sherlock nemesis, Benedict Cumberbatch.

And of course, Scott's already having a terrific year thanks to his popular role as the so-called "hot priest" in season two of Fleabag. Watch him discussing the role on The Graham Norton Show below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtWHrkSo-Rc

Are you looking forward to His Dark Materials?