Despite it’s 2019 cancellation, the show based on Jane Austen’s unfinished novel is returning.
While the itv adaptation of Sanditon, helmed by Andrew Davies, originally failed to do the numbers for itv, it has been revived thanks to a co-production deal involving Masterpiece on PBS and UK streamer Britbox.
While the first season ended with a heart-breaking finale, the new run will pick up nine months later. With the town growing in popularity, the story will introduce new characters and provide “friendships and challenges for the residents as the Army make Sanditon their new base.”
In fact, the new deal covers a second and a third season, although they will come with some cast changes; Theo James will not returning as Sidney Parker, nor will either Mark Stanley (Lord Babington) or Leo Suter (James Stringer).
New faces
Season 2 will introduce Augusta Wilson (Eloise Webb), Alexander Colbourne’s 17 year old ward and niece, who soon gives her new governess Charlotte a run for her money. Also, Charlotte’s spirited younger sister Alison (Rosie Graham) will arrive to pursue her own romantic dream.
The Parkers are back too, with Tom (Kris Marshall) striving to rebuild Sanditon. However, many unforeseen issues await him while the secrets and lies of the dysfunctional Denhams continue to rock the foundations of the sunny seaside town. And, in her last summer season before turning 21, Georgiana Lambe (Crystal Clarke), keen to forge her own identity, gets up to mischief in the name of love… but will she run the risk of being lonelier than ever before?
BritBox Premiere Window
Justin Young (Death in Paradise, Ripper Street), who wrote four episodes of season 1, has developed the new series. He will lead the writing team including Andrew Davies, Colin Bytheway, Janice Okoh, Ellen Taylor and Robin French. Both Young and Davies are also executive producers.
The series producer is Rebecca Hedderly, with producers Ian Hogan and Amy Rodriguez. Directors for season 2 are Charles Sturridge and Ethosheia Hylton. Sanditon‘s other executive producers are Belinda Campbell and Tim Key for Red Planet Pictures, Susanne Simpson for Masterpiece and Chloe Tucker for ITV/BritBox UK.
Sanditon Season 2 will premiere on in the US on 20th March, with UK viewers getting the choice of watching during Britbox’s exclusive ‘premiere window’ (we guess at about the same time), or waiting for it to come to itv.