Before The Scarlet Letter imprinted Hester Prynne with an indelible “A,” there was 18th-century noblewoman Lady Seymour Worsley, who caused a scandal — and inspired a court case — when she left her husband to elope with his best friend.

Worsley’s story will be interpreted for the small screen by the BBC2 in Woman in Red, with Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1) taking on the role of the woman who wouldn’t accept marital dissatisfaction. The 90-minute drama will focus on the court case brought on by Worsley’s first husband, which became a forum to debate the worth of a woman and challenge the idea that a wife is no more than one of her husband’s material possessions.

Dormer commented, “I am thrilled to be playing a woman who was so ahead of her time. Though our story is set in the 18th century, it challenges and explores the issues still fully relevant today of freedom and equality.”

Woman in Red will be brought to the screen by a team of female creatives. Based on Hallie Rubenhold’s book Lady Worsley’s Whim, it will be directed by Sheree Folkson and executive produced by Leanne Klein and Eleanor Green.

[via Screen Daily]