His dark materials season 3 release date

HBO has just released a new trailer for the third and final season of His Dark Materials, a fantasy series based on the award-winning Philip Pullman book trilogy. The new trailer gives us a glimpse into the intense final chapter of the series, which is set to premiere on HBO on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 9:00 PM ET and 11:00 PM PT.

The third season of the series is based on The Amber Spyglass, the final book in Pullman's trilogy. The third season will close out the television series. The third season, like the previous two, will consist of eight episodes. His Dark Materials is a multi-world series that follows several alternative worlds, one of which is a world in which human souls appear in animal companions called 'daemons'. The series follows many characters from different backgrounds and perspectives but focuses on several main characters, most especially Lyra Belacqua, also known as Lyra Silvertongue, a young girl who serves as the heroine of the series.

The new trailer shows us what is in store for the final chapter of the series including, for non-book readers, the surprise return of Lee, played by Lin Manuel Miranda, who died in the second season. The bulk of season three, however, will follow Lyra, played by Dafne Keen, who is "the prophesied child", and Will, played by Amir Wilson, who bears The Subtle Knife. The two will have to journey to a place from which no one, to their knowledge, has ever returned. Meanwhile, her father, played by James McAvoy, prepares for war against the Authority.

james-mcavoyImage via HBO Max

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The new trailer gives us a glimpse at the disparate and overlapping journeys of our wide-ranging characters, showing the wear that comes along with trying to save a multitude of worlds. The trailer also offered a tantalizing glimpse at Lee's return to the series. How and why he made his return from very certain death is yet to be seen. You'll just have to tune in to the third season this December to find out.

Starring alongside Miranda, Keen, Wilson, and McAvoy are Ruth Wilson as Mrs. Coulter, Simone Kirby as Mary Malone, Will Keen as Father President McPhail, Jade Anouka as Ruta Skadi, Ruta Gedminstas as Serafina Pekkala, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Commander Ogunwe, and Jamie Ward as Father Gomez among others.

His Dark Materials is produced by Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO. You can stream the first two seasons of the series on HBO Max. Season 3 premieres on HBO on December 5, 2022, at 9:00 PM ET and 11:00 PM PT. Until then, you can check out the new trailer below.

His Dark Materials Season 3 cast

'His Dark Materials' Season 3 will be based on the third novel in the series. (Image credit: BBC/© Bad Wolf/HBO)

His Dark Materials season 3 is the third and final series in the BBC and HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials (opens in new tab)trilogy. 

Fittingly, the third series is based on The Amber Spyglass (opens in new tab), the final novel in the trilogy. The BBC and HBO production will once again be produced by Bad Wolf and Amit Gupta will lead as director of the opening two episodes; he will then be followed by Charles Martin and Weronika Tofilska.

Speaking about the latest installment, Bad Wolf Founder and Executive Producer Jane Tranter said: “The Amber Spyglass is the most gloriously complex of Philip Pullman’s novels to adapt for TV, but with our world-class creative team in Cardiff, no challenge is too daunting. 

"This season is both an epic adventure and a story about love and truth. Jack, Francesca, and Amelia’s scripts capture the brilliance of Philip’s worlds and we are joined by our much-loved existing cast and some exceptional talent new to the series.”

Here's what we know about His Dark Materials season 3 so far...

His Dark Materials season 3 release date

His Dark Materials returns on December 5 on HBO Max in the US and will air on BBC iPlayer in the UK. 

A release date for UK audiences has not yet been confirmed but we are expecting to hear confirmation when the Christmas schedule is released.

It has been an incredible six year journey through the Worlds of #HisDarkMaterials, but it’s time to close the doors on the final chapter. That’s a wrap on Season 3. 🎬 pic.twitter.com/IRKO3u6EhXNovember 26, 2021

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What is the plot of His Dark Materials season 3?

Season 3 picks up where we left off, where Lord Asriel called upon the angels to help him wage a war, and Mrs Coulter abducted her daughter Lyra to take her to "safety" back in their own world. This prompts Will to try and find Lyra to save her from her mother.

According to the BBC: "Season 3 opens with Lyra unconscious, having been given a sleeping draught by her mother, as Will, still carrying the Subtle Knife, continues his quest to find her. Will is tracked down by two angels — Balthamos and Baruch — who wish to take him to join Lord Asriel’s campaign against The Authority with Commander Ogunwe. 

"But Will is not the only one after Lyra, with Father President MacPhail continuing his mission to destroy the child of the prophecy, employing the help of his most committed follower, Father Gomez."

Who's in the cast?

His Dark Materials Season 3

Dafne Keen (Lyra) and Amir Wilson (Will) signal that filming has commenced on His Dark Materials Season 3. (Image credit: BBC)

There are some new faces joining the cast for Season 3, with the BBC confirming that Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jamie Ward, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Simon Harrison, Chipo Chung, and Amber Fitzgerald-Woolfe will all have roles in the latest installment.

Amir Wilson and Dafne Keen reprise their roles as Will and Lyra, and returning cast also includes Will Keen as Father President MacPhail, Jade Anouka as Ruta Skadi, and Ruta Gedmintas as Serafina Pekkala. James McAvoy (Lord Asriel) and Ruth Wilson (Lyra's mother, Mrs. Coulter) will also be back in the show's final installment.

Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen) in His Dark Materials S3

We got our first glimpse at Lyra (Dafne Keen) in 'His Dark Materials' season 3 in a recent HBO Max teaser. (Image credit: BBC/ Bad Wolf )

Is there a trailer?

Yes, a new trailer has been released where we get a look at Lord Asriel’s campaign against The Authority with Commander Ogunwe, where he's seeking to wage war on heaven itself.

You can take a look at the official trailer below, which was announced as part of New York Comic Con (NYCC). 

The final rebellion. Season 3 of #HisDarkMaterials premieres December 5 on @HBOMax. #HDMNYCC #HBO50 pic.twitter.com/Hunv7732JvOctober 7, 2022

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Lucy joined the WhatToWatch.com team in 2021, where she writes series guides for must-watch programmes, reviews and the latest TV news. Originally from Northumberland, she graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Film Studies and moved to London to begin a career writing about entertainment.

She is a Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and has a huge passion for cinema. She especially loves horror, thriller and anything crime-related. Her favourite TV programmes include Inside No 9, American Horror Story, Stranger Things and Black Mirror but she is also partial to a quiz show or a bit of Say Yes to the Dress

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Is His Dark Materials season 3 out?

His Dark Materials seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now, with season 3 premiering in December on BBC One.

Where can I watch season 3 of His Dark Materials?

His Dark Materials season 3 release date His Dark Materials returns on December 5 on HBO Max in the US and will air on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

Will there be a 3rd book of dust?

Preceded by. The Book of Dust Volume Three is the third and final book in The Book of Dust trilogy. As of yet, the title of the book is unknown, but Sir Philip Pullman has revealed it will have something to do with roses - possibly with the name being The Garden of Roses or Roses from the South.