His Dark Materials season 2 had to cut one episode from production because of the coronavirus pandemic. James McAvoy’s standalone episode as Lord Asriel briefly filmed in March, but work had to stop because of the lockdown orders in the U.K.
As a result, His Dark Materials season 2 will have just seven of the original eight episodes. Executive producer Jane Tranter confirmed the cut and said that they are open to revisiting the Asriel standalone episode in the future.
“We could continue post-production on the seven episodes that make up The Subtle Knife and just put the Asriel standalone episode to one side,” Tranter said during the online Comic-Con event to update the fans about the series. “Essentially, our adaptation of The Subtle Knife had been completed.”
James McAvoy barely in season 2
McAvoy said in a podcast interview that they were filming the Asriel episode for day one when the U.K. prime minister ordered the lockdown.
“So, it’s gone now, unfortunately,” the actor said. “So, I’m barely going to be in Season 2.”
The rest of the cast and crew of His Dark Materials season 2 wrapped up production before the Christmas holidays in 2019. McAvoy’s episode, however, is only an addition to the story, which was not exactly in the source material written by best-selling author Philip Pullman.
The episode was a more detailed narrative of what Lord Asriel has been doing right after the mysteries at the end of the first season. It will also explain where Lord Asriel has been once he returns for season 3.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge cast as daemon voice
While McAvoy might not be seen much in His Dark Materials season 2, fans of this HBO show will be thrilled to know that Phoebe Waller-Bridge has boarded the upcoming installment. She will be present as the voice of the daemon of Colonel John Parry, played by Andrew Scott.
Scott and Waller-Bridge are co-stars in the Amazon comedy series Fleabag, and the actor said that he’s happy to have someone close to him play his character’s daemon voice.
“I’m really thrilled about that because it’s all about companionship and friendship and loyalty, and that’s what I feel about Phoebe in real life,” the actor said. Incidentally, Scott is also a new addition to the His Dark Materials series, and his character is very capable of handling a subtle knife.
His Dark Materials season 2 will delve on Lyra (Dafne Keen) and Will (Amir Wilson) meeting up at Cittàgazze. HBO plans to air the second season in the fall.
Image used courtesy of HBO/YouTube