The Artful Dodger is Back for Season 2!
Disney+ has officially announced that the hit Australian Original series The Artful Dodger will return for a highly anticipated second season. Following the show's strong performance locally and internationally, filming for the new eight-episode season is set to begin in 2025 at the historic Callan Park in Sydney.
The second season will see the return of the all-star cast, including Thomas Brodie-Sangster (The Queen’s Gambit, Wolf Hall) reprising his role as Jack Dawkins, also known as The Artful Dodger. David Thewlis (Landscapers, Fargo) returns as the infamous Fagin, and Maia Mitchell (Good Trouble, Never Goin’ Back) will continue her portrayal of Lady Belle Fox, the Governor’s daughter who’s determined to make history as the first female surgeon.
Alongside familiar faces, the second season will feature an ensemble of Australian and New Zealand talent, with a promise of exciting new cameos. The writing team, led by series co-creator James McNamara, includes Kate Mulvany (Summer Love, Upright), Dan Knight, and Miranda Tapsell (Top End Wedding). Directors Ben Young (The Twelve, Clickbait) and Gracie Otto (Heartbreak High) will helm the series, with Jeffrey Walker (Modern Family) serving as a consulting director.
The Artful Dodger is a fresh take on the classic tale of Oliver Twist, imagining Jack Dawkins' life as an adult in Australia’s Port Victory. Season 2 is set to continue the dramatic exploits of Dodger, Fagin, and Lady Belle, blending cunning heists, unexpected romance, and thrilling surgical escapades. According to Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand, the return of The Artful Dodger is a response to the enthusiastic demand from a global audience. “We’re thrilled to give our global audiences what they’ve been asking for,” she said. “The return of our Australian born Disney+ Original scripted drama, complete with all-star cast and a brilliant crew, is a testament to the series’ high calibre of production and its local and international audience success.”
The Artful Dodger is part of Disney+ Australia's expanding portfolio of locally produced content. Other Australian Originals include the scripted series The Clearing, the docuseries Matildas: The World At Our Feet and Shipwreck Hunters Australia, and lifestyle series like Donna Hay Christmas. In October 2024, Disney+ debuted another scripted drama, Last Days of the Space Age, which continues to grow its quality pipeline of original Australian programming.
With filming set to start in 2025, fans of The Artful Dodger can look forward to more cunning thievery, heart-pounding drama, and the romantic twists that made the first season such a standout success. The new season promises to be a thrilling continuation of the beloved story, with the charm and intrigue that captured audiences' hearts worldwide.