His Dark Materials - Season 3 Production Underway!

The third season of The BAFTA award-winning His Dark Materials is officially underway as Bad Wolf Productions sets to work adapting the conclusion to Philip Pullman's epic finale. This will be my official follow-up to my first article on season three - as there have been some new casting announcements since.

Bad Wolf are currently working on the first episode of Season 3, 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.

Along with a brand new on-set photo of Amir Wilson (Will) and Dafne Keen between filming, Bad Wolf released this official synopsis on their website:

At the end of season two 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 three 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 masterpiece to a dramatic conclusion.

The season 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.

As I reported before the following characters will all feature: Lyra (Dafne Keen), Will (Amir Wilson), Mrs Coulter (Ruth Wilson), Dr Mary Malone (Simone Kirby), Serafina Pekkala (Ruta Gedmintas), Ruta Skadi (Jade Anouka), and Lord Asriel (James McAvoy).

However, there are new characters set to make their debut and two recasts - the new cast members were confirmed with quotes of their book counterparts. Oliver Monaghan and I-Kay Agu were originally rumoured to play the angel lovers Baruch and Balthamos, but Bad Wolf has now confirmed Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Simon Harrison will play those roles along with Chipo Chung as rebel angel Xaphania.

Additional casting has confirmed Ama will be played by Amber Fitzgerald-Woolfe a girl who may be the key to Lyra's whereabouts and two newcomers to the sinister Magisterium with Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Commander Ogunwe and Jamie Ward as Father Gomez.

As His Dark Materials sets to work on filming the eight episode finale, it is has been confirmed that the series is expected to be airing on BBC/HBO in Autumn 2022. Make sure to keep an eye out on Bad Wolf's Website - there's more details on the talented cast and crew that are attached to this production - and HDM Social Media Accounts for more news!