Welcome to the world of "His Dark Materials."

The BBC released the first teaser trailer for its big-budget adaptation of Philip Pullman’s fantasy epic. The sneak peek shows glimpses of stars Dafne Keen, James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The teaser doesn't get much into the plot. But Pullman's books are set in an alternate universe where human souls take the form of animal companions called daemons. Lyra (Keen) and Will are two ordinary children on a perilous journey through shimmering haunted otherworlds. They will meet witches and armored bears, fallen angels and soul-eating specters. And in the end, the fate of both the living—and the dead—will rely on them.

There have been attempts to adapt Pullman's work before; you may recollect the 2007 "Golden Compass" film starring Nicole Kidman (or maybe, you wish to forget).

But it seems BBC, with an assist from producing partner HBO, has pulled out all the stops (and thrown a lot of money) at this version. Certainly, the cast is top-notch and even the mere glimpses the teaser gives of McAvoy, Wilson, and Miranda glowering pensively are a treat.

The teaser did not include a premiere date for the miniseries on BBC, nor a corresponding premiere date on HBO in the U.S.