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Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light

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Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light
GenreHistorical drama
Based onThe Mirror & the Light
by Hilary Mantel
Written byPeter Straughan
Directed byPeter Kosminsky
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Colin Callender
  • Noëlette Buckley
  • Peter Kosminsky
  • Lucy Richer
  • Susanne Simpson
ProducerLisa Osborne
Production companiesCompany Pictures
Playground Entertainment
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release10 November 2024 (2024-11-10) –
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

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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

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Production

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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

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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

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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

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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

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No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
(BBC One)		U.S. air dateUK viewers
(millions)
1"Wreckage"Peter KosminskyPeter Straughan10 November 2024 (2024-11-10)tbc4.06
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 KosminskyPeter Straughan17 November 2024 (2024-11-17)tbctbc
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 KosminskyPeter Straughan24 November 2024 (2024-11-24)tbctbc
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 KosminskyPeter Straughan1 December 2024 (2024-12-01)tbctbc
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 KosminskyPeter Straughan8 December 2024 (2024-12-08)tbctbc
tbc
6"Light"Peter KosminskyPeter Straughan15 December 2024 (2024-12-15)tbctbc
tbc

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Richardson, Hollie. "TV tonight: the final part of Hilary Mantel's beloved Tudor trilogy". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Mark Rylance confirms sequel to Wolf Hall adaptation". RTE. Press Association. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "'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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Wolf Hall Broadcast Date". Twitter. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Cast named for the return of Wolf Hall". Televisial. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  13. ^ Faber, Alex (3 April 2024). "BBC's Wolf Hall returns to TV screens with diverse cast of courtiers". The Times. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Horton, Kim (8 February 2024). "TV crews spotted at Berkeley Castle amid BBC Wolf Hall filming speculation". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Filming for BBC drama rumoured to be Wolf Hall in Wells". Somerset County Gazette. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  19. ^ Lilleywhite, Maisie (8 November 2024). "West sites to feature in new series of Wolf Hall". BBC News. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ "Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the LIght - Everything We Know Now". Masterpiece. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  22. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024z1n#credits
  23. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002569p
  24. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025fx6
  25. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025p17
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