The BBC has officially confirmed that the acclaimed period drama Wolf Hall will be returning to screens nearly a decade after its initial run.
The highly anticipated continuation, titled Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, will dive back into the turbulent life of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII.
The first season, which aired in 2015, followed Cromwell’s political ascent as he aided King Henry VIII in navigating marital obstacles and orchestrated the legal shift that made Henry the head of the Church of England, allowing him to divorce and remarry. Despite winning multiple BAFTAs, fans were left waiting for a follow-up after the show’s initial success.
Mark Rylance returns to his BAFTA-winning role as the cunning Cromwell, who now finds himself in a precarious position following Anne Boleyn’s execution.
According to director Peter Kosminsky, “The Mirror and the Light picks up exactly where Wolf Hall ended, with the execution of Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn.”
He shared his enthusiasm about reuniting with the cast and crew, saying: “I’m overjoyed to be able to reunite the extraordinary cast we were lucky enough to assemble for Wolf Hall led by the brilliant Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis, with the original creative team of Gavin Finney (DOP), Pat Campbell (Designer) and Joanna Eatwell (Costume Designer).
“We are all determined to complete what we started – and to honour the final novel written by one of the greatest literary figures of our age, Hilary Mantel.”
As Cromwell manoeuvres his position within the court and aligns himself with Jane Seymour, viewers will witness his attempts to remain indispensable to Henry VIII amid increasingly high-stakes challenges.
BBC’s Chief Content Officer, Charlotte Moore, spoke highly of the show’s impact, stating: “A stunning and unforgettable adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s sublime novels, Wolf Hall quickly established itself as one of the all-time great television dramas, with millions of adoring viewers across the UK and around the world.
“Almost a decade on we’re delighted to have reunited this exceptional creative team and lead cast to conclude Mantel’s thrilling saga on the BBC.”
Fans of Mantel’s work and period drama enthusiasts can look forward to a gripping continuation of Cromwell’s journey in the complex, often perilous Tudor court.
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light premieres November 10 at 9pm on BBC1.