The Artful Dodger Season 2 Lands an Explosive February 2026 Release Date & First-Look Images on Disney+ and Hulu
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Since its premiere in 2023, the Australian Original series The Artful Dodger has captivated audiences and critics alike, offering a fresh, action-packed, and often gory sequel to Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. The show centers on Jack Dawkins, formerly known as The Artful Dodger, who now attempts to carve out a new, respectable adult life as a surgeon in the far-flung penal colony of Port Victory, Australia. Following its initial success, the historical heist original earned a second season renewal, but news about its return remained scarce for nearly a year.
Now, the silence has been broken with the official announcement that The Artful Dodger Season 2 will debut globally on Disney+ and Hulu. The sources confirm that all eight episodes of the second season will drop at once on February 10, 2026. Thomas Brodie-Sangster returns as Dr. Jack Dawkins, joined by David Thewlis as the ever-crafty Norbert Fagin, and Maia Mitchell as the ambitious Lady Belle Fox. Along with the release date, Disney+ revealed a series of First-Look Images, giving fans their first glimpse of the explosive drama awaiting the trio and the introduction of critical new characters. The new season promises to be packed with "more thrills, humour, heart, invention and deception than ever".
The Long-Awaited Return: The February 2026 Release Date
The commitment to a second season, ordered in November 2024, is a direct result of the show’s significant local and international success. The show’s return is celebrated by The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand, confirming that the fan-favorite Aussie original is coming back with "more romance, adventure and razor-sharp wit".
The highly anticipated February 10, 2026 Release Date marks the end of a long wait for fans eager to see the continuation of Jack’s tumultuous life as a surgeon constantly threatened by his criminal past. All episodes of this Australian Disney+ original will be released simultaneously on Disney+ and Hulu worldwide. This success is a "testament to its local and international success and the high-calibre talent involved," both in front of and behind the camera. The production, filmed in Sydney, Australia, is a Disney+ co-production with Curio Pictures, which is owned by Sony Pictures Television.
A Critically Acclaimed Original
The first season of The Artful Dodger was widely praised, boasting a near-perfect score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes: a 92% critics’ score and an even better 96% audience score. Critics hailed the series for its unique blend of historical drama, crime, romance, and the often "woefully horrific surgical practices of yesteryear".
The show’s creative team, including co-creator and executive producer James McNamara, has ensured that the high quality of the original is maintained and even elevated for Season 2. Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand, noted that the production was further elevated with "intricate new costuming and sets that take audiences even deeper into the adrenaline-pumping world of The Artful Dodger". The returning directorial team includes Gracie Otto, who worked on the first season, alongside new directors Ben Young and Ben C. Lucas.
High Stakes in Port Victory: Jack Dawkins' Peril
The official synopsis for the new season confirms that Jack Dawkins is immediately placed in dire circumstances, making his struggle for respectability more precarious than ever. The Artful Dodger Season 2 begins with Jack "in deep trouble" and facing "an appointment with the noose". His peril is compounded by the arrival of Port Victory’s new lawman, Inspector Henry Boxer, who is actively hunting him.
The danger severely restricts Jack’s personal life, as the synopsis warns that "if he sees the woman he loves, Lady Belle, he’ll be hanged". Despite this grave threat, the story promises "more thrills, humour, heart, invention and deception than ever".
Love Hanging in the Balance
Lady Belle Fox is also tackling immense challenges as she pursues her personal goals. Determined to forge a future for herself in medicine, she is "defying expectation and stepping into danger". Her intense ambition is fueled by a complex love for Jack, which is now literally "hanging in the balance" due to the threat of execution.
The tension between Jack and Belle is heightened by Inspector Henry Boxer, the new lawman played by Luke Bracey. Boxer’s role is not just professional; he is introduced as a figure who is "competing with Jack for Belle’s affection," creating a high-stakes romantic triangle within the already volatile environment of Port Victory.
![Luke Bracey as Inspector Henry Boxer smiles at Maia Mitchell as Lady Belle Fox in a scene from The Artful Dodger Season 2.[1]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/616c7c_75e5eb061b6247e4ac798335e06e9d82~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_552,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/616c7c_75e5eb061b6247e4ac798335e06e9d82~mv2.jpg)
Expanded Cast and New Antagonists
The First-Look Images confirmed that the core cast ensemble is returning, which includes Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis, and Maia Mitchell. The supporting cast features many familiar faces reprising their roles, such as Susie Porter (Lady Jane Fox), Damien Garvey (Governor Fox), and Tim Minchin (Darius Cracksworth). Also returning are Lucy-Rose Leonard (Lady Fanny Fox), Nicholas Burton (Dr Sneed), Kim Gyngell (The Prof), and Luke Carroll (Tim Billiberllary).
The new characters, whose additions are detailed in the sources and shown in the First-Look Images, promise to escalate the conflict. Luke Bracey joins the cast as the aforementioned Inspector Henry Boxer. Other notable newcomers include Jeremy Sims as Uncle Dickie and Zac Burgess as Phineas Golden, described as "the mysterious Phineas Golden". The introduction of a dedicated antagonist like Inspector Boxer, who is both a lawman and a romantic rival, guarantees intense confrontation.
Fagin's Influence and Dangerous Heists
Despite Jack's precarious situation and Belle's determination to establish herself in medicine, the past proves impossible to escape. The sources reveal that the crafty Norbert Fagin, played by David Thewlis, successfully "drags Dodger into their most dangerous heist yet". This criminal entanglement, combined with Jack being actively hunted and the dramatic stakes of his relationship with Belle, sets the stage for a truly "explosive season".
The tension is further amplified by the ominous plot detail that "a killer is on the loose". The new season promises to deliver complex plotting and high-stakes drama, utilizing the talents of the expanded cast and the dedicated creative team. The audience can expect a thrilling blend of "thrills, humour, heart, invention and deception" as Jack attempts to navigate the gallows, a new inspector, a rivalry for Belle’s affection, and Fagin’s biggest scheme yet.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Release Date & Platform: The Artful Dodger Season 2 premieres globally on February 10, 2026, with all episodes dropping simultaneously on Disney+ and Hulu.
🗝️ Jack's Jeopardy: Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) faces the gallows and is actively hunted by Port Victory’s new lawman, Inspector Henry Boxer.
🗝️ The Synopsis: The season centers on Jack trying to evade capture while Fagin (David Thewlis) pulls him into "their most dangerous heist yet," all while "a killer is on the loose".
🗝️ Romantic Conflict: Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell) pursues her career in medicine, while Inspector Boxer (Luke Bracey) competes directly with Jack for her affection, placing their love "hanging in the balance".
🗝️ First-Look Images confirm the return of the main cast and the addition of key new characters, signaling an "explosive season" with elevated production quality.
🌐 External sources
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The Artful Dodger Season 2
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