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His Dark Materials cast and producer share teasers for the fantasy series' season two

Season two of His Dark Materials begins after Lord Asriel has opened a bridge to a new world, and, distraught over the death of her best friend, Lyra follows Asriel into the unknown. (Photo: HBO)
Marisa Coulter (Ruth Wilson) works for the sinister Magisterium. (Photo: HBO)

Epic fantasy series His Dark Materials returns to HBO on 17 November, and season two promises to expand on the multiverse that was built in the first season.

Lyra (Dafne Keen) crosses the barrier between worlds to the abandoned city of Cittàgazze after having pursued the mystery of the “dust” particles in the first season. She meets Will (Amir Wilson), a boy from our world who’s running from a troubled past, and Dr Mary Malone (Simone Kirby), a quantum physicist who is studying dark matter, or what is also known as “dust”.

BBC, the other distributor of His Dark Materials besides HBO, recently organised a webinar interview comprising cast and crew members to give viewers a taste of what’s to come in season two.

Executive producer Jane Tranter said fans could expect more of everything that the show had introduced in season one. “Everything is kind of building and expanding.”

Besides the setting expanding beyond Lyra’s world into Will’s world and the world of Cittàgazze, Tranter said the new season would feature more witches from a second clan led by Queen Ruta Skadi, who joins witch queen Serafina Pekkala.

Photo : Copyright © Simon Ridgway, 2019 |www.simonridgway.com |pictures@simonridgway.com | 07973 442527 | Caption : 28.08.19 - His Dark Materials S2.  sc.1/12 - CITTAGAZZE - WILL AND LYRA'S CAFE : LYRA attacks WILL and then they introduce themselves and talk about their worlds. PAN emerges & introduces himself to WILL. LYRA exits the cafe. PAN follows and WILL stares.
Will meets Lyra in Cittagazze. (Photo: HBO)

Spectres are introduced this season, as seen in the trailer, but according to Tranter, angels will feature in the storyline too.

While season one featured the alethiometer, another magical instrument will be used this season – the “subtle knife”, which opens doorways between worlds.

Keen, who plays Lyra, says the protagonist of the series starts off in a dark and lonely place this season, having been through betrayal by her father Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) and the death of her friend Roger. “I am completely alone... You see (Lyra) in this really horrible place, and you see Will also in a horrible place, and they’re like a puzzle, they complete each other.”

Photo : Copyright © Simon Ridgway, 2019 |www.simonridgway.com |pictures@simonridgway.com | 07973 442527 | Caption : 07.10.19, His Dark Materials S2.  sc.2/39 - OXFORD - MARY'S COLLEGE - CORRIDOR/THE LAB : They head down the corridor to The Cave. MARY attaches electrodes to LYRA. MARY says it was the best display she has ever seen. LYRA leaves in a hurry.
Dr Mary Malone and Lyra in His Dark Materials. (Photo: HBO)

Simone Kirby, who plays Dr Malone, said the scientist had an interesting internal conflict based on her struggle with spirituality and science. “She’s not like the other grown-ups – she’s not looking to get power, she’s not greedy or sinister. But her internal struggles with her own spirituality is quite complex.”

Season two of His Dark Materials will premiere at the same time as the U.S. on 17 November at 10am (SGT) on HBO GO and HBO with an encore at 10pm (SGT) on HBO.