Trailer: His Dark Materials returns for Season 3 this December
David Farnor | On 10, Oct 2022
“I know you don’t believe me, but I am doing this for you…” “Tell me who this war is really against.” That’s the sound of His Dark Materials returning this December – and a new trailer gives us closer look at the third and final season.
Based on Philip Pullman’s final novel in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass, Season 3 will see Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, and Lyra (Dafne Keen), the prophesied child, travel through multiple worlds to find and protect each other, while Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) mounts his campaign against The Authority. Meanwhile, Oxford physicist Mary Malone reaches another parallel world – that of the Mulefa, a strange animal-like species, who they tell her of a cataclysmic phenomenon in their world…
New cast members include Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Commander Ogunwe and Jamie Ward as Father Gomez. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Simon Harrison, and Chipo Chung are the rebel angels Balthamos, Baruch and Xaphania; while Ama will be played by Amber Fitzgerald-Woolfe. Returning cast also include Will Keen as Father President MacPhail, Jade Anouka as Ruta Skadi and Ruta Gedmintas as Serafina Pekkala.
It will premiere in the US on HBO on 5th December, with two episodes airing weekly – building up to a finale on 26th December. In the UK, the BBC hasn’t yet confirmed its plans for broadcast, but has said that it will air in December.
Here’s the trailer:
First look: New images from His Dark Materials Season 3
28th August 2022
His Dark Materials will soon be on our screens once more for a third and final season, and new images give us a look at the series’ return.
Based on Philip Pullman’s final novel in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass, Season 3 will see Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, and Lyra (Dafne Keen), the prophesied child, travel through multiple worlds to find and protect each other. New cast for series three includes Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Commander Ogunwe and Jamie Ward as Father Gomez. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Simon Harrison, and Chipo Chung are the rebel angels Balthamos, Baruch and Xaphania; while Ama will be played by Amber Fitzgerald-Woolfe. Returning cast also include Will Keen as Father President MacPhail, Jade Anouka as Ruta Skadi and Ruta Gedmintas as Serafina Pekkala.
At the end of Season 2 we saw Lord Asriel call upon the angels to help him wage a war against the Kingdom of Heaven, as Mrs Coulter abducted her daughter Lyra to take her to “safety” in their own world.
Season 3 opens with Lyra unconscious, having been given a sleeping draught by her mother, as Will, still carrying the Subtle Knife, continues his quest to find her. Will is tracked down by two angels – Balthamos and Baruch – who wish to take him to join Lord Asriel’s campaign against The Authority with Commander Ogunwe. But Will is not the only one after Lyra, with Father President MacPhail continuing his mission to destroy the child of the prophecy, employing the help of his most committed follower, Father Gomez.
Meanwhile Oxford physicist Mary Malone reaches another parallel world – that of the Mulefa, a strange animal-like species. They tell her of a cataclysmic phenomenon in their world. With multiple new worlds, including the Land of the Dead, returning characters and featuring strange new creatures the Mulefa and Gallivespians, the third season will bring Philip Pullman’s story to a dramatic conclusion.
Speaking at this year’s Edinburgh International TV Festival, executive producer Jane Tranter said that Lord Asriel will have a bigger role on screen than in the books, partly due to the sheer amount of information that needs to be conveyed to audiences. “Lots of things happen, or you’re given a lot of information either through a narrating voice or Asriel is told something offscreen,” she explained, adding that a new character has been introduced for Asriel to interact with.
The new images give us another look at James McAvoy as Asriel, but also tease Mary’s discoveries and the reunion of Will and Lyra. Watch this space for a trailer and a release date…
Production underway on His Dark Materials Season 3
21st June 2021
Production is now underway on Season 3 of His Dark Materials.
The third season of the BBC and HBO co-production is based on Philip Pullman’s final novel in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass. This series will see Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, and Lyra (Dafne Keen), the prophesied child, travel through multiple worlds to find and protect each other.
New cast for series three includes Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Commander Ogunwe and Jamie Ward as Father Gomez. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Simon Harrison, and Chipo Chung are the rebel angels Balthamos, Baruch and Xaphania; while Ama will be played by Amber Fitzgerald-Woolfe. Returning cast also include Will Keen as Father President MacPhail, Jade Anouka as Ruta Skadi and Ruta Gedmintas as Serafina Pekkala.
Amit Gupta will lead as director of the opening two episodes, to be followed by Charles Martin and Weronika Tofilska.
Production will once again take place in the sound stages at Wolf Studios Wales and on location throughout Wales and England.
At the end of Season 2 we saw Lord Asriel call upon the angels to help him wage a war against the Kingdom of Heaven, as Mrs Coulter abducted her daughter Lyra to take her to “safety” in their own world.
Season 3 opens with Lyra unconscious, having been given a sleeping draught by her mother, as Will, still carrying the Subtle Knife, continues his quest to find her. Will is tracked down by two angels – Balthamos and Baruch – who wish to take him to join Lord Asriel’s campaign against The Authority with Commander Ogunwe. But Will is not the only one after Lyra, with Father President MacPhail continuing his mission to destroy the child of the prophecy, employing the help of his most committed follower, Father Gomez.
Meanwhile Oxford physicist Mary Malone reaches another parallel world – that of the Mulefa, a strange animal-like species. They tell her of a cataclysmic phenomenon in their world. With multiple new worlds, including the Land of the Dead, returning characters and featuring strange new creatures the Mulefa and Gallivespians, the third season will bring Philip Pullman’s story to a dramatic conclusion.
The series will once again be helmed by Executive Producers Jane Tranter and Dan McCulloch for Bad Wolf. Writers Jack Thorne and Francesca Gardiner will both Executive Produce, with Amelia Spencer joining as writer and consulting producer. Also executive producing the series are Ryan Rasmussen, Julie Gardner and Joel Collins for Bad Wolf; Philip Pullman; Deborah Forte; Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line Cinema; and Ben Irving for the BBC.
Joel Collins returns as production designer and Executive Producer, with Russell Dodgson as series VFX supervisor for Framestore and Dan May as VFX art director and pre-vis supervisor for Painting Practice. Kahleen Crawford and Dan Jackson return as casting directors, Caroline McCall as costume designer and Claire Williams joins the Bafta Award winning creative team as hair and make-up designer. The series producer is Nick Pitt and producer is Stephen Haren.
Executive Producer Dan McCulloch said: “The moment we started series one of His Dark Materials we had mapped out all three novels to know the direction in which we were heading. Every detail and character within this incredible work of fiction has been analysed and discussed for four years now, and to finally arrive in the many worlds of The Amber Spyglass is thrilling.”
His Dark Materials will return for Season 3
22nd December 2020
His Dark Materials will officially return for a third season.
The series, which is based on Philip Pullman’s acclaimed trilogy of novels, is produced by Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO. Season 2 launched in the UK with over 5.8 million viewers on BBC One and, to date, both season have been requested over 30 million times on BBC iPlayer, with numbers increasing throughout Season 2. Hot on the heels of the Season 2 finale, a third run has been confirmed, based on The Amber Spyglass, the third entry in Pullman’s trilogy. It will once again star Dafne Keene as Lyra, Amir Wilson as Will, Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter, Simone Kirby as Mary Malone, Ruta Gedmintas as Serafina Pekkala, Jade Anouka as Ruta Skadi and James McAvoy as Lord Asriel.
Lead screenwriter Jack Thorne will be joined as Executive Producer by Season 2 writer Francesca Gardner, with Amelia Spencer as a new addition to the scriptwriting team.
Ben Irving, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor, Wales, said: “Fans of Phillip Pullman’s incredible books, and newcomers alike, have been enthralled by adventuring with Lyra and Will through multiple worlds. We are thrilled that they will be able to continue their journey in a third series of this beautifully realised drama. Our thanks to our partners at HBO and the dedicated creative team at Bad Wolf for making a landmark series that will continue to be watched and enjoyed on the BBC for years to come.”
His Dark Materials Executive producing the series are Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch, Ryan Rasmussen, Julie Gardner and Joel Collins for Bad Wolf; Philip Pullman, Jack Thorne and Francesca Gardner; Deborah Forte; Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line Cinema; and Ben Irving for the BBC.