The Artful Dodger Season 2 Filming Update and Australian Production Details
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The Artful Dodger, the Australian crime comedy-drama, quickly captivated global audiences following its premiere in November 2023. Serving as a sequel to Charles Dickens’ timeless novel, Oliver Twist, the series re-imagines the life of Jack Dawkins, the notorious Artful Dodger, who now attempts to navigate society as a respected surgeon in the fictional colony of Port Victory. After finding its audience and garnering good reviews, Disney+ announced the show’s highly anticipated renewal for a second season in November 2024, nearly a year after the first season's debut.
The confirmation of an eight-episode Season 2, which is an Australian Original series for Disney+, was driven by its strong performance both locally and internationally. Now, fans have the exciting news they've been waiting for: filming on The Artful Dodger season 2 has officially begun. The continuation of the series promises to build on the foundation laid in Season 1, diving deeper into the complex relationship between Jack, his former criminal mentor Fagin, and the ambitious Lady Belle Fox.
Filming Officially Underway: The Sydney Setting
The production of The Artful Dodger relies heavily on utilizing historic Australian locations to bring the rough-and-tumble world of 1850s Port Victory, New South Wales, to life. While Port Victory is a fictional colony, the series was filmed in Australia, specifically in New South Wales and its capital, Sydney.
The most recent update confirms that Season 2 is now in production in Callan Park in Sydney, Australia. Callan Park is a historic location, and the area known as Kirkbridge, Callan Park—which served as a former psychiatric hospital—was previously transformed into an "1800s backlot" during the filming of the first season.
The Enduring Commitment to Historical Locations
The dedication to historical accuracy and compelling scenery is one of the show’s trademarks. Previous production details highlight the extensive use of New South Wales locations for Season 1, which began filming in November 2022 and wrapped in March 2023. The suburb of Rookwood acted as a stand-in for many scenes set in Port Victory, including Rookwood Cemetery. Other sites used for the sweeping period drama included Elizabeth Farm and the coastal clifftop area of Cape Banks. Additional well-known Sydney locations used in Season 1 filming included Dixon Street, The Rocks, Macquarie Street, and the Parliament House, as well as The Female Factory in Parramatta and Swifts, Darling Point.
Australian actress Maia Mitchell, who plays Lady Belle Fox, shared the demanding nature of period filming, recalling shooting in Parramatta in a warehouse studio during summer. She noted that wearing several layers and corsets for months was physically demanding but "honestly helped" maintain the physical reminder of the historical setting.
The Returning Cast and Season 2 Narrative
The success of The Artful Dodger rests on its captivating lead trio, all of whom are confirmed to return for the eight-episode second season. Thomas Brodie-Sangster (who has "come a long way since playing the kid in Love Actually") reprises his role as Jack Dawkins, The Artful Dodger. David Thewlis is back as the malignant criminal overlord Fagin, and Maia Mitchell returns as Lady Belle Fox. The main cast is joined by a full ensemble of Australian and New Zealand talent, along with several new cameos.
The story will immediately address the explosive cliffhanger from the Season 1 finale. When the audience last saw the two main male characters, Jack was jailed because the guards believed he had stolen a large amount of missing gold. Fagin, his old mentor, ended up in the cell right next to him. Crucially, the sources reveal that Fagin figures out that Oliver Twist was the real thief and is able to return the gold. Because Fagin possesses a pardon letter, he confidently tells Jack that they will not be locked up for long. Season 2 will reveal if Fagin's promise holds true. According to a press release, the continuing journey of the trio promises "more cunning thievery, snappy humour, life-and-death surgeries, and romance with a twist".
Production Timeline and Release Outlook
While filming is now officially underway, the timeline for release is still uncertain. The first season offers some clues to the expected schedule. Production for Season 1 started in November 2022 and took five months to finish, wrapping in April 2023. However, the series was not released until November 2023, seven months after filming was completed.
If the production schedule for The Artful Dodger Season 2 follows the same five-month timeframe, filming would wrap in August 2025. If post-production is expedited, it is possible that the series could debut in November or December 2025. However, the sources suggest that a 2026 release might be more likely. The series will stream on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ globally.
The Creative and Governmental Support Behind the Show
The ongoing production is backed by a robust creative and governmental infrastructure. The show was co-created by James McNamara, David Maher, and David Taylor. For Season 2, James McNamara is leading the writing team, collaborating with Kate Mulvany, Dan Knight, and Miranda Tapsell. Directing the new season are Ben Young and Gracie Otto, with Jeffrey Walker consulting.
The Artful Dodger Season 2 is developed as a co-production with Sony Pictures Television’s Curio Pictures. Curio Pictures’ Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner are listed as Executive Producer/Producers, with James McNamara also serving as an Executive Producer, and Cameron Welsh as Series Producer. The production receives financial backing from the NSW State Government through Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund, with post, digital, and visual effects also supported by Screen NSW. This support underscores the importance of the series as a locally produced Australian Original.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Renewal and Filming: Disney+ announced the renewal of The Artful Dodger for an eight-episode Season 2 in November 2024, and filming has officially begun in Sydney, Australia.
🗝️ Production Location: Season 2 is filming at the historic Callan Park in Sydney. The series is set in the fictional Australian colony of Port Victory, New South Wales, and utilizes historical Australian sites, supported by the NSW State Government.
🗝️ Returning Stars: The core trio is returning: Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Jack Dawkins), David Thewlis (Fagin), and Maia Mitchell (Lady Belle Fox).
🗝️ Plot Point: Season 2 will explore the fallout of the Season 1 finale, which left Jack and Fagin jailed, but with Fagin possessing a pardon letter and knowing that Oliver Twist was the actual thief of the gold.
🗝️ Release Forecast: Based on the previous production timeline, filming is estimated to wrap in August 2025, making a late 2025 or more likely 2026 release possible.
🗝️ Streaming Platform: The show will stream on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ globally.
🌐 External sources
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The Artful Dodger Season 2 Filming
