The second season of The Artful Dodger may have only landed on our screens earlier this year, but its fate has already been sealed.
Thankfully for fans, there’s good news on the horizon as the Oliver Twist sequel is set to return for a third season. However, it is set to be the show’s last instalment – but will surely bow out on a high with Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis and Maia Mitchell all confirmed to reprise their roles, as reported by Deadline.
On the announcement of the renewal news, Sony Pictures Television’s Curio Pictures’ Jo Porter said in a statement: “We love that audiences have embraced the show’s unique blend of adventure, humour and romance, and we are planning for this season to be even more ambitious, surprising and unpredictable.”
Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Disney Australia and New Zealand’s SVP and managing director, also said: “The renewal is a testament to the quality of this show, and everyone involved in making it.”
Headed up by Love Actually star Brodie-Sangster in the leading role as Jack, the second season saw him in some serious trouble as he was being hunted by Inspector Boxer and told to keep away from the woman he loves, Lady Belle (Mitchell).
Inspired by the well known tale by Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, Thewlis also stars as Fagin – but things were left on quite the cliffhanger for him by the end of season 2.
In an attempt to escape serving time for his crimes, Fagin got Jack to inject him with a lethal poison. But he woke up in his coffin by the end of the episode, something that Jack is unaware of and which should make an interesting jumping off point for season 3.
As for Jack’s own story, he avoided the noose but not wanting to confront his developing and serious feelings for Belle, ran away to rejoin the navy. However, he chose not to go through with his hurried decision and actually reunited with Belle, who had planned to run after him anyway.
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A third season isn’t all that surprising for the show because of these cliffhangers and the fact that The Artful Dodger has become the most-viewed Australian original title on Disney+.
Previously speaking about where they see things going should they get a renewal, Mitchell told TV Insider: “Now that we’ve kind of cracked open the tension between the family and seen this new kind of authenticity and respect and openness, I would love to see that play out. And I would love to see what it looks like for Belle and Jack to be living together and trying to be domestic.”
Similarly talking about how things ended up for Fagin, Thewlis said: “I personally love that ending because it’s very unexpected and it’s rather dark and it really calls into question this relationship and says a lot about Dodger and especially that he’s now going to flee without really checking [if Fagin lived].”
Whilst a release date hasn’t been confirmed for the third and final season, we do know that filming kicks off for it in Australia in the coming months.
The Artful Dodger seasons 1-2 are now streaming on Disney+.
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