There's disappointing news about Wolf Hall season 3

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light has come to an end. Will there be more to this series?
MASTERPIECE
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light

Episode One: Wreckage 
Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 9/8c on PBS
In the wake of Anne’s execution, the King weds Jane Seymour. Marital bliss does nothing to quell Henry’s rage at his daughter, and Cromwell makes a risky play to save Princess Mary from her father’s murderous streak.

Shown L-R: Mark Rylance (Thomas Cromwell) and Damian Lewis (King Henry VIII)

Photographer: Nick Briggs 

For editorial use only.

© Playground Television (UK) Ltd
MASTERPIECE Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light Episode One: Wreckage Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 9/8c on PBS In the wake of Anne’s execution, the King weds Jane Seymour. Marital bliss does nothing to quell Henry’s rage at his daughter, and Cromwell makes a risky play to save Princess Mary from her father’s murderous streak. Shown L-R: Mark Rylance (Thomas Cromwell) and Damian Lewis (King Henry VIII) Photographer: Nick Briggs For editorial use only. © Playground Television (UK) Ltd

It took 10 years, but Wolf Hall season 2 finally arrived. And it was over far too quickly for our liking. Now eyes are on Wolf Hall season 3, but there is a lot of bad news about this.

What you’ll notice is that Wolf Hall season 2 wasn’t actually listed as that. It was titled slightly differently, making it clear that this was a sequel series, although it was a second season of the same story. Many of the same people worked on the production, and it was a continuation based on the trilogy of books by Hilary Mantel.

It’s clear that some stories are not over. Thomas Cromwell may be dead (sorry, but real history is not a spoiler), but there is still another wife of Henry VIII and there are still many political factions looking for their own gain. Wolf Hall season 3 could continue that story, right?

Wolf Hall season 3 can’t happen without Thomas Cromwell

I wouldn’t expect a third season of Wolf Hall. While there is still more to the world of Henry VIII’s Court, the story of the series is over. This was about Thomas Cromwell, and we saw his rise and his heartbreaking fall.

Yes, there are three books in Mantel’s series about Cromwell, but that doesn’t mean three seasons. The first season of Wolf Hall covered two books and the second season covered the third.

Mantel passed away in 2022, so there is no chance that there will be more to the story. On top of that, she only wrote the series to offer a sympathetic view to Thomas Cromwell, with no intention of continuing the story after Cromwell’s execution. In fact, it took her a long time to finish the third book because she wasn’t ready to end the story for the man she had come to like.

So, there is very little chance of Wolf Hall season 3 happening, unless we can get a story of Thomas Cromwell haunting Henry VIII from the grave. That is a possibility with the way the second season had characters haunting Cromwell and Henry did regret his actions, but it’s unlikely.

WOLF HALL_ THE MIRROR AND THE LIGHT ON MASTERPIECE Thomas Cromwell, Christophe and RIchard RIche__
MASTERPIECE Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light Episode Two: Obedience Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 9/8c on PBS A secret marriage brings scandal to court, giving Cromwell the opportunity to bring his adversary Norfolk down for good. But an unexpected encounter forces Cromwell to question where his loyalties lie. Shown L-R: Mark Rylance (Thomas Cromwell), Corentin Fila (Christophe), Tom Mothersdale (Richard Riche) Photographer: Nick Briggs For editorial use only. © Playground Television (UK)

Wolf Hall season 2 nearly didn’t happen

Not only is there not a story that involves Cromwell left, but it took a lot for Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light to be created. Actors had to take pay cuts to make sure the project could happen. This was an expensive series to create, and there wasn’t the budget for it.

With many having to go through a lot just to get the project in budget, it’s unlikely that the studio will want to go through that again. Plus, it was likely done purely because it was the final season of the story, completing Cromwell’s arc.

So, it is disappointing, but it’s also understandable. Wolf Hall season 3 likely won’t happen.

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