Disney+’s The Artful Dodger has been renewed for a second season, and there are already a ton of exciting details about the imaginative sequel to Oliver Twist. Picking up years after the events of Charles Dickens’ beloved book, The Artful Dodger concerns the eponymous character, now grown, who hopes to establish a new life for himself in the colony of Australia. Unfortunately, the return of the dastardly Fagin presses the old pickpocket back into service, putting his hopes of a better fate in jeopardy. Like many modern takes on classic literature, Dickens’ source material is merely the jumping-off point.
Season 1 of the series added a host of new wrinkles to the Oliver Twist mythos, and the ending of The Artful Dodger was clearly setting up for more. However, it seemed as if the big-budget historical drama was destined to be a one-season-wonder. Fortunately, after nearly a year of waiting, Disney finally decided to renew The Artful Dodger for a sophomore outing, bringing Jack, Belle, and Fagin back for more adventures down under. As more details begin to pour in about season 2, The Artful Dodger is already shaping up to be one of Disney+’s best original series.
The Artful Dodger Season 2 Latest News
The Second Season Adds 3 New Cast Members
Several months after the series scored its season 2 renewal, the latest news confirms that three new cast members will join The Artful Dodger. As announced by TV Line, the Charles Dickens-inspired series will add Luke Bracey (Little Fires Everywhere), Jeremy Sims (Mr Inbetween) and Zac Burgess (Cruel Intentions) in recurring roles. Bracey is set to play the role of Inspector Henry Boxer, the new authority figure in the colony. Sims is going to be Uncle Dickie, the Governor’s brother, who is charming despite his bad reputation. Finally, Burgess is playing Phineas Golden, an aide to Dickie.
The newcomers include:
- Luke Bracey as Inspector Henry Boxer
- Jeremy Sims as Uncle Dickie
- Zac Burgess as Phineas Golden
The Artful Dodger Season 2 Is Confirmed
The Reformed Thief Returns For More
Disney+’s The Artful Dodger was one of the sleeper TV hits of late 2023, but it seemed as if the show was dead in the water despite positive reviews and a big audience. However, in November 2024, Disney finally renewed the Charles Dickens off-shoot for a sophomore outing, welcome news after a year of silence regarding the show. While many details are still unknown, the show is scheduled to begin filming in Australia in 2025, though a full production timeline hasn’t been revealed yet.
The Artful Dodger season 1 premiered on November 29, 2023.
The Artful Dodger Season 2 Cast Details
Which Classic Dickens Characters Will Return In Season 2?
While the entire cast of The Artful Dodger season 2 hasn’t been revealed, it stands to reason that the main cast will reprise their roles. The chemistry within the ensemble was the show’s strongest aspect, and it wouldn’t be the same without Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Jack Dawkins (aka The Artful Dodger). Representing a new character created exclusively for the show, Maia Mitchell should also be on hand to reprise her role as aspiring surgeon, Lady Belle Fox. Rounding out the main cast is David Thewlis as the slippery Fagin, and he should reprise his role as well.
The various denizens of Port Victory, Australia, also play an important role in Jack’s life, meaning friend and foe alike should be back. Belle’s parents, Governor Edmund (Damien Garvey) and Lady Jane Fox (Susie Porter) will certainly be in season 2, as will Jack’s rival, Dr. Rainsford Sneed (Nicholas Burton). Season 2 has introduced new characters too, with Luke Bracey set to appear as Inspector Henry Boxer, a new authority in the colony. Jeremy Sims will play the role of the Governor’s rakish brother, Uncle Dickie, while Zac Burgess will play Dickie’s handsome aide, Phineas Golden.
The cast of The Artful Dodger season 2 should include:
|
Actor |
The Artful Dodger Role |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Thomas Brodie-Sangster |
Jack Dawkins “The Artful Dodger” |
|
|
Maia Mitchell |
Lady Belle Fox |
|
|
David Thewlis |
Fagin |
|
|
Damon Herriman |
Captain Lucien Gaines |
|
|
Lucy-Rose Leonard |
Lady Fanny Fox |
|
|
Damien Garvey |
Governor Edmund Fox |
|
|
Susie Porter |
Lady Jane Fox |
|
|
Miranda Tapsell |
Red |
|
|
Nicholas Burton |
Dr. Rainsford Sneed |
|
|
Luke Bracey |
Inspector Henry Boxer |
|
|
Jeremy Sims |
Uncle Dickie |
|
|
Zac Burgess |
Phineas Gold |
|
Related
All 20 Actors Who Played The Artful Dodger in Movies & TV
The Artful Dodger has appeared in multiple adaptations of the Dickens classic since the 1900s, with many different portrayals of the iconic character.
The Artful Dodger Season 2 Story Details
How Will Jack Get Out Of Jail?
Jack spent the entirety of season 1 trying to reconcile his disparate halves. The one known as The Artful Dodger had served him well, but it was incongruous with his career as a surgeon. However, the ending of season 1 saw Jack in jail after Gaines nabbed him for the various thefts, and his partner Fagin saw his fortunes improved through some clever trickery. With their roles now reversed, this opens up an interesting dynamic for Jack and Fagin, as the latter has cleared his name and the former has only started to make good.
there will be elements in the colony who will be willing to stick up for Jack after his medical triumph
Belle survived the experimental surgery on her heart that Jack performed, and she’ll likely stop at nothing to get her mentor and beau out of jail. Furthermore, there will be elements in the colony who will be willing to stick up for Jack after his medical triumph. All in all, The Artful Dodger season 2 has a lot of threads to work with, and it could even top season 1’s humor and adventurous spirit.
The Artful Dodger
- Release Date
-
November 29, 2023
- Directors
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Jeffrey Walker, Corrie Chen, Gracie Otto
- Writers
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James McNamara, David Maher, Andrew Knight, Dan Knight, Vivienne Walshe
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
