His Dark Materials adds Fleabag and Sherlock stars for its upcoming season 3. The series produced for both BBC and HBO adapts the trilogy of fantasy books of the same name by Philip Pullman, and has been largely well-received by critics and audiences. Season 3, based on Pullman’s The Amber Spyglass, was greenlit in December, 2020 and is expected to air sometime in 2022.
Pullman’s novels, which take place in multiple, parallel worlds that incorporate varying degrees of fantasy elements, feature a long list of interesting characters, and the show’s cast is stacked accordingly. Dafne Keen, who first broke through playing Laura in 2019’s Logan, stars as protagonist Lyra, while Ruth Wilson (Luther) and James McAvoy (X-Men reboots) play her power-hungry parents, Marisa Coulter and Asriel Belaqua. Lin-Manuel Miranda was aeronaut Lee Scorseby in seasons 1 & 2, HBO alums Clarke Peters (The Wire) and James Cosmo (Game of Thrones) had recurring roles, and a host of other recognizable faces appear throughout.
Now, Deadline is reporting that His Dark Materials has added two actors from BBC’s stable to its cast for season 3. Sian Clifford, known for playing Claire in Fleabag, has taken on the role of Agent Salmakia, while Sherlock actor Jonathan Aris has been cast as Commander Roke. Both characters are Gallivespians, a race of miniature humanoids that appear in The Amber Spyglass and side with Lord Asriel in his war against the Authority.
Clifford and Aris are not the first actors from those two series to join His Dark Materials, though they’re unlikely to share screen time with their former co-stars. Andrew Scott, who was both Moriarty in Sherlock and Hot Priest in Fleabag, played shaman and co-lead Will’s father, John Parry, who tragically died just as he reunited with his son in the season 2 finale. Phoebe Waller-Bridge, star and creator of Fleabag, voiced his daemon, who died at the same instant. Aris’ only chance is to cross paths with Magisterium leader Cardinal MacPhail, as both he (Will Keen) and his daemon (Lindsay Duncan) are Sherlock alums.
Fans of His Dark Materials should be pleased to see actors of such pedigree continue to join the series, which has proven a more faithful adaptation than they perhaps could have hoped for. Pullman’s trilogy is known for its controversial criticism of religion, and the 2007 film The Golden Compass attempted to adapt the first book while excising this central element, very much to its detriment. That HBO and BBC joined forces to do justice to Pullman’s story was already exciting, but their commitment to fleshing out His Dark Materials‘ cast with their wide network of talent only builds anticipation for the show’s third and final season.
