Wolf Hall 2: The Mirror and the Light – Release date, cast, & Everything we know so far

Wolf Hall 2: The Mirror and the Light is the highly anticipated continuation of the BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning historical drama, based on Hilary Mantel’s final novel in her acclaimed Tudor trilogy. 

The series brings viewers back to the court of Henry VIII, focusing on the last four years of Thomas Cromwell’s life as he navigates the treacherous waters of power and loyalty. It promises to be a fitting tribute to Mantel, who was closely involved in its planning before her passing in 2022.

Fans can look forward to the return of Mark Rylance as Cromwell and Damian Lewis as Henry VIII, along with the original creative team that made the first series a global sensation.

Recently, the BBC and MASTERPIECE PBS unveiled first-look images from Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, giving fans a glimpse of the returning cast and the richly detailed world they will inhabit. With filming now complete, speculation is rife that the series could hit screens by the end of the year.

In this article, we’ll explore everything we know so far about Wolf Hall 2: The Mirror and the Light, including potential premiere dates, cast updates, and what to expect from the new season. Keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll be updating it with all the latest news as it becomes available!

Release date & Where to Watch

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is rumored to have a Christmas 2024 release date. The series will air on BBC One and be available on BBC iPlayer in the UK, with a PBS Masterpiece broadcast in the US. 

Plot

Wolf Hall, which originally brought Hilary Mantel's first two Tudor novels, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, to life, vividly depicted 16th-century court life and the rise of Thomas Cromwell, a lawyer who became one of King Henry VIII’s most trusted advisors. Cromwell, once a protégé of Cardinal Wolsey, gained the King's favor by orchestrating the divorce from Catherine of Aragon and arranging Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn, though he made many enemies along the way. The first series also covered England's split from the Roman Catholic Church and Anne Boleyn’s fall from grace after failing to produce a male heir.

The Mirror and the Light, the final installment, will pick up after Anne Boleyn's execution in 1536, following Henry's marriage to Jane Seymour and the birth of his long-awaited son, Prince Edward. As the story continues, Thomas Cromwell, now emerging from the chaos of Anne's downfall, continues his ascent in the treacherous Tudor court. With no powerful family or private army to back him, Cromwell must rely on his wits to navigate the dangerous politics of the time, all while trying to balance his own moral compass against his will to survive. 

The series will explore how Cromwell, now at the peak of his influence, faces rebellion at home, threats of invasion, and enemies gathering in the shadows as he seeks to reshape England through innovation and religious reform. Yet, under Henry VIII's ruthless rule, no one is safe, and the question lingers: how long can Cromwell's luck hold out?

As the series traces the final four years of Cromwell’s life, it portrays his transformation from a self-made man to one of the most feared and powerful figures of his time, all while hinting at his inevitable fall—foreshadowing a fate that echoes the very figures he once helped to bring down.

Cast

• Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell 
• Damian Lewis (Homeland) as Henry VIII
• Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders) as Henry VIII’s third wife Jane Seymour
• Lilit Lesser as Princess Mary, the daughter of Henry and his first wife Catherine of Aragon
• Jonathan Pryce (The Crown) as Cardinal Wolsey

Other cast members include: 

• Harriet Walter (Killing Eve and Succession) as Lady Margaret Pole
• Timothy Spall (Mr Turner, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) as the Duke of Norfolk
• Thomas Brodie-Sangster (The Maze Runner and Love Actually) as Rafe Sadler 
• Joss Porter (The Undeclared War and Humans) as Richard Cromwell
• James Larkin (Black Mirror and McMafia) as Master Treasurer Fitzwilliam 
• Richard Dillane as the Duke of Suffolk 
• Will Keen as Archbishop Cranmer
• Hannah Steele as Mary Shelton
• Alex Jennings as Stephen Gardiner 
• Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Bess Oughtred 
• Lydia Leonard as Lady Jane Rochford 
• Charlie Rowe as Gregory Cromwell 
• Harry Melling as Thomas Wriothesley 
• Corentin Fila as Christophe 
• Tom Mothersdale as Richard Riche
• Karim Kadjar as Eustache Chapuys
• Lucy Russell as Lady Anne Shelton
• Will Tudor as Edward Seymour
• Viola Prettejohn as Mary Fitzroy
• Thomas Arnold as Hans Holbein
• Jordan Kouamé as Martin The Gaoler
• Agnes O’Casey as Lady Margaret Douglas
• Cecilia Appiah as Nan Seymour
• Ellie de Lange as Jenneke
• Hubert Burton as Thomas Howard the Lesser
• Pip Carter as Sir Geoffrey Pole
• Josef Altin as Thomas Avery
• Sarah Priddy as Lady Margery Seymour
• Hannah Khalique-Brown as Dorothea
• Amir El-Masry as Thomas Wyatt
• German Segal as Olisleger
• Summer Richards as Catherine Howard
• Dana Herfurth as Anne of Cleves

Trailer 

A trailer hasn't been released yet, but we'll be sure to share it here as soon as it drops.

Where is Wolf Hall 2: The Mirror and the Light Filmed?

Filming for Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light began in late 2023 and took place across various locations in England. Notably, scenes were shot at Berkeley Castle in February 2024 and at Wells Cathedral in March 2024. In the drama, Wells Cathedral in Somerset is featured as Kent's Canterbury Cathedral.

Behind the Scenes 

Reuniting the creative team behind the BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning Wolf Hall, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is directed by seven-time BAFTA winner Peter Kosminsky (The Undeclared War and The State) and adapted for television by Academy Award nominee Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Frank). 

This six-part series is a co-production between Playground, known for The Undeclared War and All Creatures Great and Small, and Company Pictures, producers of Van Der Valk and Blood. 

The series will air on the BBC and MASTERPIECE, with international distribution handled by Banijay Rights. Colin Callender and Noëlette Buckley serve as executive producers for Playground, alongside Peter Kosminsky, Lucy Richer for the BBC, and Susanne Simpson for MASTERPIECE. The series is produced by Lisa Osborne.