BBC’s ‘Wolf Hall’ is coming back to adapt Hilary Mantel’s final novel

Wolf Hall is returning!

BBC Two’s original six-part series adapted Hilary Mantel‘s novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies in 2015, later airing on PBS in the US.

The fictionalised historical drama followed the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII through to the death of Sir Thomas More, followed by Cromwell’s success in freeing the king of his marriage to Anne Boleyn.

Wolf Hall was a huge hit with audiences and critics, receiving eight Emmy Award nominations and winning a Golden Globe for Best Miniseries or Television Film.

There has been much talk in recent years about bringing the final novel in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy to our screens.

So it’s very exciting to report that the BBC and PBS have today confirmed an adaptation of The Mirror and the Light will begin filming in the UK very soon!

Reuniting the creative team from the original series, the follow-up is being scripted by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).

“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 U.K. and around the world,” commented Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer.

“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,” she added.

The complete first season of Wolf Hall is currently streaming in the UK on BBC iPlayer.

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is expected to premiere in late 2024 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on PBS Masterpiece in the US.

Here’s the official synopsis:

“May, 1536. Anne Boleyn, Henry’s second wife, is dead. As the axe drops, Thomas Cromwell emerges from the bloodbath to continue his climb to power and wealth, while his formidable master, Henry, settles to short-lived happiness with his third queen, Jane Seymour.

“Cromwell, a man with only his wits to rely on, has no great family to back him, and no private army. Navigating the moral complexities that accompany the exercise of power in this brutal and bloody time, Cromwell is caught between his desire to do what is right and his instinct to survive. But in the wake of Henry VIII having executed his queen, no one is safe.

“Despite rebellion at home, traitors plotting abroad and the threat of invasion testing Henry’s regime to breaking point, Cromwell’s robust imagination sees a new country in the mirror of the future. All of England lies at his feet, ripe for innovation and religious reform. But as fortune’s wheel turns, Cromwell’s enemies are gathering in the shadows.

“The inevitable question remains: how long can anyone survive under Henry’s cruel and capricious gaze?”

We’ve watched Wolf Hall countless times so this is wonderful news and definitely on our list of shows we’re excited to see return in 2024.

The original Wolf Hall series is available to watch on the PBS Masterpiece channel with this free 7-day trial!