His Dark Materials Renewed for Third and Final Season at HBO
Looks like HBO is committed to adapting Philip Pullman’s full trilogy: His Dark Materials has been renewed for a third and final season, TVLine has learned.
The fantasy series’ second season concludes Monday, Dec. 28, at 9/8c. Season 1 dealt primarily with the events of Pullman’s The Golden Compass and centered on the adventures of Lyra, a little girl living in a universe similar to our own. Season 2 has chronicled the events of The Subtle Knife, Book 2 in Pullman’s three-novel set, which follows what happens as Lyra and a boy named Will are pursued by both friends and foes between parallel universes.
In Book 3, titled The Amber Spyglass, the danger following Will and Lyra comes to a pinnacle. (And yes, readers, these are incredibly simplified synopses of what happens in the books.)
“Bringing Phillip Pullman’s epic, intricate and culturally resonant body of work to television has been a tremendous privilege,” Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming, said in a statement. “We thank our incredible partners at the BBC and the entire Bad Wolf team, led by the indefatigable Jane Tranter, for their exceptional work on the first two seasons. We look forward to completing the trilogy with this final chapter in Lyra’s journey.”
Added executive producer Jane Tranter, “His Dark Materials has been a truly global TV experience and a personal career highlight. The creative team at Bad Wolf in Cardiff made the impossible possible and brought Philip Pullman’s worlds into vivid life. To see that hard work and dedication applauded and embraced by fans around the world has made all the hard work worthwhile. None of this would have been possible without the wonderful commitment and conviction of the BBC and HBO. I am excited, thrilled and honoured to be making the third part of Philip Pullman’s trilogy with their support and encouragement.”
Season 2 saw the addition of several new cast members, including Terence Stamp (the Superman films), Simone Kirby (Peaky Blinders), Jade Anouka (Turn Up Charlie) and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who provided the voice of the daemon (or animal embodiment of a person’s soul, for those who are unfamiliar) belonging to John Parry, played by her Fleabag co-star Andrew Scott.
Are you happy to hear that His Dark Materials will get the chance to finish adapting Pullman’s full trilogy? Hit the comments and let us know!
Love this show, so I’m very glad it will get a proper planned conclusion!
So I guess they won’t adapt the sequel trilogy as of yet then?
Fantastic news!!!
Awesome! I did feel like this season suffered a bit more than I’d expected from the loss of the “standalone” ep (which as it turns out didn’t fully stand alone) but I am definitely excited to see the full trilogy completed.
Good stuff. They’ve managed a great adaptation so far, so I’m confident they can do the final book justice with one more season.
I had no doubt we would get a Season 3, ratings are just too good!! Season 2 was beyond what I could have expected and look forward to next year. I cannot wait to see the what they do with the Mulefa!!!!
This is great news! I’m loving season 2 more than season 1. They added some much needed humor into the show. I’m excited to see them finish the trilogy!
The one that will be special is the prequel “La Belle Savage” Its a beautifully written book that has high budget TV adaption written all over it. That’s hope it’s been optioned by bass wolf. They’ve done a good job do far
again i think hbo said they were committed to doing all 3 books which again a event series where you can do 10 episodes, this year only 7 because of obvious reasons is much better then trying to condense it into a 2 hour movie
I am delighted there will be a third season of His Dark Materials. I have loved the books for many years. I’ve also seen several of the movies made from The Golden Compass. This series surpasses those. Kudos to all involved.
Meanwhile, Philip Pullman is writing another trilogy set in this universe. Two volumes are out so far, just sayin’…
I really hope, like the stage adaptation, they leave the mulefa out of it. My only fear is that they’ll rush through the story to fit the eight episode format.
But regardless, by all means, adapt The Books of Dust next!
“Several of the movies made from The Golden Compass?”
There was more than one?
At least 10 episodes please! This is a much bigger book and they’ve done a great job with pacing and honouring the stories so far. We need 10 episodes to truly provide the depth, detail and character development of the novel. Kthxbi
Can’t wait for the rest of Pullman’s trilogy! Read all the books and the adaptation has been excellent! Please don’t mess up the ending like GOT.
I am delighted! I told my son there was another book, and that I wanted it to be done too! Thanks for the update. Daphne Keen is a great actress! There is a Will Keen who is the cardinal, I believe, any relation?
Will Keene is Daphne’s dad.
Love it! One of the very best series, past or present.
Superb!!! Love this trilogy. Expertly done. Bravo.