His Dark Materials has now returned to production with a third season of the BAFTA-winning BBC and HBO co-production based on Philip Pullman’s final novel in the trilogy – The Amber Spyglass – produced by Bad Wolf.

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 season 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.

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.

Bad Wolf Founder and Executive Producer Jane Tranter said: “The Amber Spyglass is the most gloriously complex of Philip Pullman’s novels to adapt for TV but with our world class creative team in Cardiff no challenge is too daunting. This season is both an epic adventure and a story about love and truth. Jack, Francesca and Amelia’s scripts capture the brilliance of Philip’s worlds and we are joined by our much-loved existing cast and some exceptional talent new to the series.”

Executive Producer Dan McCulloch said: “The moment we started season 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 4 years now, and to finally arrive in the many worlds of The Amber Spyglass is thrilling.”

Ben Irving, Commissioning Editor, BBC Drama said: “Philip Pullman’s extraordinary trilogy of novels reaches new heights in The Amber Spyglass, and this incredible creative team have risen to the challenge every step of the way. Audiences on BBC One and iPlayer will need to prepare for another thrilling visual and emotional journey with Lyra and Will.”

Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO said: “It has been a joy watching audiences embrace this incredible journey of self-discovery, friendship and purpose with Lyra these last two seasons. Jane, Dan and everyone on the Bad Wolf team have done such a tremendous job bringing Phillip’s beloved world to life and I cannot wait for the fans to get a front row seat to all that is in store in this gripping and poignant final chapter.”

His Dark Materials is produced by Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO with support of Welsh Government funding through Creative Wales.

Jon Creamer

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