Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light | |
---|---|
Genre | Historical drama |
Based on | The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel |
Written by | Peter Straughan |
Directed by | Peter Kosminsky |
Starring | |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producer | Lisa Osborne |
Production companies | Company Pictures Playground Entertainment |
Original release | |
Network | BBC One |
Release | 10 November 2024 present | –
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is an historical drama television series. It is a second adaptation by Peter Straughan of the Wolf Hall novels by Hilary Mantel and covers The Mirror & the Light, the final novel in the trilogy. It has Peter Kosminsky returning to direct, Mark Rylance returning in the lead role of Thomas Cromwell, and Straughan returning to write from the 2015 series Wolf Hall.
Premise
[edit]The series begins with Thomas Cromwell navigating the Tudor court in the aftermath of the 1536 execution of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn, and the monarch about to marry his third wife, Jane Seymour.[1]
Cast
[edit]- Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell
- Damian Lewis as Henry VIII
- Lilit Lesser as Princess Mary
- Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Wolsey
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Rafe Sadler
- Timothy Spall as Duke of Norfolk
- Harriet Walter as Lady Margaret Pole
- Karim Kadjar as Eustache Chapuys
- Charlie Rowe as Gregory Cromwell
- Lydia Leonard as Jane Rochford
- Harry Melling as Thomas Wriothesley
- Kate Phillips as Jane Seymour
- Richard Dillane as Duke of Suffolk
- Joss Porter as Richard Cromwell
- Will Keen as Thomas Cranmer
- Will Tudor as Edward Seymour
- Tom Mothersdale as Richard Rich
- Lucy Russell as Lady Shelton
- James Larkin as Master Treasurer FitzWilliam
- Robert Wilfort as George Cavendish
- Thomas Arnold as Hans Holbein the Younger
- Hannah Steele as Mary Shelton
- Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Bess Oughtred
- Corentin Fila as Christophe
- Viola Prettejohn as Mary Fitzroy
- Jordan Kouamé as Martin the Gaoler
- Agnes O'Casey as Margaret Douglas
- Cecilia Appiah as Nan Seymour
- Ellie de Lange as Jenneke
- Hubert Burton as Thomas Howard the Younger
- Pip Carter as Geoffrey Pole
- Josef Altin as Thomas Avery
- Sarah Priddy as Margery Seymour
- Hannah Khalique-Brown as Dorothea
- Amir El-Masry as Thomas Wyatt
- German Segal as Olisleger
- Summer Richards as Catherine Howard
- Dana Herfurth as Anne of Cleves
- Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn[2]
Production
[edit]In March 2022, Mark Rylance confirmed that a second series was in development with scripts being worked on for six episodes and Peter Kosminsky set to return as director.[3] Hilary Mantel was acting as consultant on the script adaptation at the time of her death in September 2022. Kominsky, who worked closely with Mantel on the first series and had received installments of the original text as Mantel was writing the third installment of her historical trilogy, released in 2020, said that the series would continue as a "memorial" to the author.[4] Peter Straughan had again adapted the book for the series, as he had in season one, with Playground and Company Pictures producing once more.[5] In November 2023, it was reported that broadcaster Masterpiece PBS and the BBC were set to begin production on the series.[6] It is produced by Lisa Osborne and executive produced by Colin Callender and Noëlette Buckley for Playground, Kosminsky, Lucy Richer for the BBC, and Susanne Simpson for Masterpiece.[7] On 3 April 2024, the BBC reported that filming had completed and released new pictures and additional casting information.[8] Dr Owen Emmerson was one of the consultants on the show.[9]
Casting
[edit]As well as Mark Rylance returning as Thomas Cromwell, Damian Lewis also returns as King Henry VIII and Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Wolsey. Kate Phillips also reprises her role as Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour, with Lilit Lesser as Princess Mary.[10] The following month it was reported that Timothy Spall, Harriet Walter and Harry Melling had been added to the cast,[11] as well as Will Tudor, Will Keen and Viola Prettejohn.[12] The casting of the courtiers was more diverse for Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.[13]
The casting of Egyptian-British Amir El-Masry as Thomas Wyatt was criticized by Wyatt's descendant, journalist Petronella Wyatt.[14][15]
Filming
[edit]Filming got underway in late 2023.[16] Filming was reported at Berkeley Castle in February 2024.[17] The following month, filming took place at Wells Cathedral using it as the Palace of Whitehall, where Henry VIII married his third wife, Jane Seymour. Montacute House in South Somerset was used as Greenwich Palace, the site of Anne Boleyn's arrest. They also filmed at Forde Abbey, and Great Chalfield Manor, near Melksham, Wiltshire, was used for Austin Friars, the home of Thomas Cromwell. Gloucester Cathedral and Horton Court near Chipping Sodbury were also used.[18][19]
Broadcast
[edit]The series premiered in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 10 November 2024[20] and was shown on BBC iPlayer as part of the original Wolf Hall television series. The series will air weekly on PBS Masterpiece starting March 23, 2025.[21]
Episodes
[edit]No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date (BBC One) | U.S. air date | UK viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Wreckage" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 10 November 2024 | tbc | 4.06 | |
The Mirror and the Light opens in the heartbeat after Anne Boleyn's death, as the young queen's blood is sluiced from the scaffold and Thomas Cromwell picks his way across the wreckage to take up his position as principal councillor to an unpredictable king.[22] | |||||||
2 | "Obedience" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 17 November 2024 | tbc | tbc | |
As the dissolution of the monasteries gathers speed, Cromwell makes a personal pilgrimage to Shaftesbury Abbey to speak with a young nun, who profoundly shakes his view of himself.[23] | |||||||
3 | "Defiance" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 24 November 2024 | tbc | tbc | |
A rising in the north destabilises Henry's kingdom. Despite the risks to his own life, Cromwell moves to protect Lady Mary from becoming the rebels’ greatest prize.[24] | |||||||
4 | "Jenneke" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 1 December 2024 | tbc | tbc | |
The birth of a prince gives England the heir that Henry longs for, but at a terrible price. As the court grieves for Jane, it falls to Cromwell to find a fourth bride for the king. [25] | |||||||
5 | "Mirror" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 8 December 2024 | tbc | tbc | |
tbc | |||||||
6 | "tbc" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 15 December 2024 | tbc | tbc | |
tbc |
References
[edit]- ^ Lewis, Isobel (20 November 2023). "BBC Wolf Hall team to reunite for Hilary Mantel's The Mirror and the Light, final book of Cromwell Trilogy". Independent. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ Richardson, Hollie. "TV tonight: the final part of Hilary Mantel's beloved Tudor trilogy". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ "Mark Rylance confirms sequel to Wolf Hall adaptation". RTE. Press Association. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (23 September 2022). "Hilary Mantel's 'The Mirror and the Light' BBC Adaptation Will Continue as a 'Memorial' to Great British Author (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (20 November 2023). "Damian Lewis and Mark Rylance Return for 'Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light'". Collider. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "'Wolf Hall: The Mirror And the Light': Masterpiece & BBC To Begin Production On Hilary Mantel Adaptation Starring Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis". Deadline Hollywood. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ Brew, Caroline; Thompson, Jaden; Wu, Valerie (20 November 2023). "Damian Lewis, Jonathan Pryce and Mark Rylance Return to 'Wolf Hall' for Final Chapter (TV News Roundup)". Variety. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "BBC releases first-look pictures for Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light as filming wraps on the forthcoming series". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Wolf Hall Broadcast Date". Twitter. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ Porter, Rick (20 November 2023). "'Wolf Hall' Sequel With Damian Lewis, Mark Rylance Sets Production Start for PBS, BBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ White, Peter (4 December 2023). "Harriet Walter, Timothy Spall & Harry Melling Join BBC & Masterpiece's 'Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "Cast named for the return of Wolf Hall". Televisial. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Faber, Alex (3 April 2024). "BBC's Wolf Hall returns to TV screens with diverse cast of courtiers". The Times. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Kanter, Jake (10 April 2024). "'Wolf Hall' Criticized By Newspaper Columnist For "Absurd" Decision To Cast Egyptian-Born Actor As Her Yorkshire Ancestor". Deadline. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Wyatt, Petronella (9 April 2024). "Wolf Hall is back – but casting a mixed-race British-Egyptian as my ancestor Thomas Wyatt is absurd". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Jessop, Vicky (4 December 2023). "Wolf Hall: Mark Rylance and star-studded cast return for final series, plus Harriet Walter and Timothy Spall". Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ Horton, Kim (8 February 2024). "TV crews spotted at Berkeley Castle amid BBC Wolf Hall filming speculation". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Filming for BBC drama rumoured to be Wolf Hall in Wells". Somerset County Gazette. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ Lilleywhite, Maisie (8 November 2024). "West sites to feature in new series of Wolf Hall". BBC News. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ Craig, David (29 October 2024). "Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light air date confirmed by BBC as Thomas Cromwell drama returns". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the LIght - Everything We Know Now". Masterpiece. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024z1n#credits
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002569p
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025fx6
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025p17
External links
[edit]- 2024 British television series debuts
- 2024 British television series endings
- 2020s British drama television series
- 2020s British television miniseries
- BBC television royalty dramas
- Cultural depictions of Henry VIII
- British English-language television shows
- House of Tudor
- Fiction about monarchy
- Television series about the history of England
- Television series set in the 16th century
- Television set in Tudor England
- Television shows set in England
- Cultural depictions of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury