Cynthia Nixon will lead the main cast in the upcoming eight-hour miniseries ‘World Without End,’ the follow-up to ‘The Pillars of the Earth,’ Deadline is reporting. The $44 million dollar miniseries, which will be produced by Tandem Communications and Ridley and Tony Scott’s Scott Free Prods, will also feature Miranda Richardson, Ben Chaplin, Peter Firth, Charlotte Riley and Tom Weston-Jones.

Michael Caton-Jones will be directing ‘World Without End,’ which was written by John Pielmeier. The miniseries is set in England, 200 years after ‘The Pillars of the Earth,’ and chronicles the hard times the citizens are facing after being hit with high taxes by the King and the Church. England is on the brink of war with France and Europe, while bracing for a plague that will ultimately kill a third of the continent’s population. The mini-series will follow Caris, played by Riley, a young woman who stands up to England’s royalty and Church with the help of her lover Merthin and their community.

Nixon is set to play deadly schemer Petranilla. Richardson has signed onto portray the strong Mother Cecilia, while Chaplin will portray the mysterious Sir Thomas Langley. Firth has been cast as the ruthless Earl Roland.

The five-month shoot is expected to begin filming on July 11, 2011 in Hungary. Producers have built a 12,000 square meter backlot, which features a medieval town and bridges. Additional filming will take place in Slovakia and Austria.

The producers have yet to secure a network to air ‘World Without Ends’ in the U.S. Starz aired ‘The Pillars of the Earth’ in 2010, but didn’t agree on terms with Tandem to air the follow-up.

Written by: Karen Benardello