Weekly Entertainment Digest – November 23rd

November 23, 2024

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Even as we get closer to the end of the year and big box office movies, we have a lot of great announcements coming every week! We even have some fantastic giveaways and screenings you can sign up for. It’s a busy week as usual!

Be sure to stay up to date with the release schedule here, and find out when your favorite Holiday Movies and Specials will be airing on AppleTV+!

Metro Detroit Local Events

Free Activity Sheets

Screenings

Moana 2 (11/25)

Giveaways

Movie Reviews

Movie and Entertainment Updates

GLADIATOR II | Final Trailer – In Theaters Now

Get Passes to an Early Screening of Gladiator II

From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE COMPLETE FOURTEENTH SEASON| Now on DVD

SpongeBob SquarePants is at the center of a brand-new DVD timed to the landmark 25^th anniversary of one of the most popular series and characters of all time.

The Complete Fourteenth Season continues the nautical adventures of Nickelodeon’s longest-running animated series featuring SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, Plankton and Squidward in a two-disc collection.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Fourteenth Season is now available on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Fourteenth Season synopsis:

Excitement is bubbling up in Bikini Bottom with SpongeBob SquarePants, the incurably optimistic sea sponge and his undersea friends! Watch as Plankton learns self-defense from Sandy and Squidward and Bubble Bass are forced to tolerate each other’s company on a trip to Jetsam City. Then, SpongeBob and Patrick teach Sandy all about Bikini Bottom’s fascinating, yet questionable, history. Don’t miss the return of former jellyfishing champion Kevin and so much more in the 2-disc set featuring The Complete Fourteenth Season!

MOANA 2 | Makes a Splash with New Conservation Campaign – in Theaters November 27th

In celebration of the release of Disney’s Moana 2, in theaters November 27, fans are invited to join Disney, National Geographic Pristine Seas, and Polynesian Voyaging Society to celebrate the explorer and Moana in all of us and answer the call to protect our oceans together. 

An all-new featurette showcases how the ocean connects us, provides for us, and has the power to inspire happiness and adventure across cultures and coastlines. Watch now to learn more about how we need the ocean and the ocean needs us.

By collaborating with Pristine Seas, this campaign supports the team’s work with local communities, Indigenous Peoples, government and partners to protect our ocean because when marine life has the opportunity to thrive, the ocean gives back in multitudes.

Since 2008, Pristine Seas has explored and researched underwater locations all over the world, helping to create 29 marine protected areas, covering more than 6.8 million square kilometers. These areas, which are like national parks of the sea, benefit both people and the planet.

Additionally, the collaboration with Polynesian Voyaging Society allows for the continued practice of traditional wayfinding, as seen in Moana and Moana 2. Before the invention of the compass, clocks, or GPS, Pacific Islanders navigated open-ocean voyages without instruments, using instead their observations of the stars, the sun, the ocean swells, and other signs of nature for clues to the direction and location of a vessel at sea – just like Moana. Over time, these methods have been in danger of being lost due to modernization, but a revival of the art and science of wayfinding is underway among the Pacific islands, led by the organization.

Since Polynesian Voyaging Society launched its traditional voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa almost 50 years ago, the sacred vessel has become a vehicle for exploring the oceans, Earth, and natural world. With every voyage, Polynesian Voyaging Society started to recover lost cultural traditions and uncover the vital importance of humanity’s relationship with nature. Hōkūleʻa has sailed nearly 300,000 miles connecting with Indigenous communities, ocean scientists, educators, and students around the world. Next year, the Moanauiākea Voyage will resume and Hōkūleʻa will continue her circumnavigation of the Pacific to help grow a movement to care for our oceans, and our Earth.

This effort is one of several ways that Disney is giving back to our communities in celebration of Moana 2, a film that brings happiness and a little Disney magic to kids and families around the world. Additionally, it’s part of Disney’s longstanding commitment to take meaningful and measurable action to support a healthier planet for people and wildlife, a commitment we call Disney Planet Possible. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed more than $125 million to global collaborations to inspire conservation action and positively impact wildlife and their habitats, including oceans. In addition, grants from the Disney Conservation Fund have helped support community-based programs working to expand the appreciation and protection of marine life across more than 40 countries and all five oceans.

When we come together to take action for the ocean and the unique creatures who call it home, we protect our stories, our cultures and our planet. Visit NatGeo.com/AnswertheCall for more information on how to make a wave of change together.

CLOSE YOUR EYES | on VOD and Digital Platforms December 3rd

Set in contemporary Madrid, an aging filmmaker named Miguel Garay is called upon to recount his memories of working on his final and still unfinished film, “The Farewell Gaze.” During its production, the lead actor and Miguel’s close friend, Julio Arenas, disappeared without a trace, leaving in his wake a mystery that would haunt the lives of everyone associated with the film. Miguel never directed another project, instead living a quiet life as a writer by the coast. He remained reluctant to unravel the mystery surrounding Julio until approached by an investigative television program reviving the case decades later. With careful reflection, he reconnects with the film’s crew, former lovers, and Julio’s daughter, seeking closure for the disappearance and what it meant for all of their lives.

Over three decades after the release of his previous film, revered Spanish auteur Víctor Erice (The Spirit of the Beehive, El Sur, and Dream of Light) returns with a “poignant cinematic swan song” (The Hollywood Reporter). A reflective culmination of Erice’s career in film, CLOSE YOUR EYES is a haunting meditation on memory, absence, and the enduring resonance of the moving image.

From the internationally acclaimed director of the masterpiece THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE (1973) and EL SUR (1983), CLOSE YOUR EYES is Víctor Erice’s first feature film in 31 years after the 1992 Cannes award-winner DREAM OF LIGHT. CLOSE YOUR EYES had its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and was an official selection at Toronto, New York, San Sebastian and BFI London film festivals; won a special citation from the National Society of Film Critics; and earned ten Goya Award nominations, with José Coronado winning the Best Supporting Actor award.

DICK DYNAMITE: 1944 | In Select Theaters on December 6th and on VOD December 10th

In the dying days of World War II, Dick Dynamite and his ragtag team of Nazi-killing commandos must stop a group of depraved German scientists from turning the population of New York into flesh-eating zombies.

HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES | on Digital & Blu-ray December 10th

HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES – which made millions at the international box office (more than $50M) as the most successful Thai film of all time in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia — debuts on Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital December 10 from Well Go USA Entertainment. In addition to its impressive box office numbers, the film is also Thailand’s official submission as Best International Feature for the 2025 Academy Awards^®.* The debut feature film by Pat Boonnitipat, HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES stars Putthipong Assaratanakul (AKA Billkin), Usha Seamkhum, Sanya Kunakorn, Sarinrat Thomas, Pongsatorn Jongwilas, and Tontawan Tantivejaku in the touching comedy-drama about a university dropout, low on money, who volunteers to take care of his terminally ill grandmother in the hope of pocketing an impressive inheritance. Bonus content includes interviews with the cast, crew, and fans.

After his grandmother is diagnosed with cancer, a scheming young man moves in to care for her, motivated by a desire to secure her fortune for himself. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that winning Grandma’s favor is no easy feat.

DREAM PRODUCTIONS | Launches on Disney+ December 11th

Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new series “Dream Productions” returns to Riley’s mind, where dreams really do come true—every night, on time and on budget. Check out the new trailer, images and key art, which are available to download and share. Taking place in between the events of “Inside Out” and “Inside Out 2,” all four episodes of the limited series come to the streamer beginning Dec. 11, 2024. Riley is growing up and when her memories need some extra processing, Joy and the rest of the Core Emotions send them to Dream Productions. Acclaimed director Paula Persimmon (voice of Paula Pell) faces a nightmare of her own: Trying to create the next hit dream after being paired up with Xeni (voice of Richard Ayoade), a smug daydream director looking to step up into the big leagues of night dreams.

Also featuring the voices of Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ally Maki, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black and Phyllis Smith, the hilarious, mockumentary-style series is written and directed by Mike Jones and produced by Jaclyn Simon. Featuring score by composer Nami Melumad, the soundtrack for “Dream Productions” will be available on all streaming services beginning Dec. 20.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 | New Poster – Tickets On Sale November 25th – In Theaters December 20th

Sonic the Hedgehog returns to the big screen this holiday season in his most thrilling adventure yet. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.

Director Jeff Fowler returns along with our all-star cast including Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, newcomers Alyla Browne and Krysten Ritter, with Keanu Reeves joining the franchise as Shadow the Hedgehog.

New Featurette

MUFASA: THE LION KING | in IMAX® – Tickets Now on Sale – In Theaters December 20th

Tickets are on sale now everywhere tickets are sold for Disney’s all-new feature film “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, “Mufasa: The Lion King” opens only in theaters Dec. 20, 2024. In a new featurette, director Barry Jenkins, songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and members of the phenomenal ensemble cast take viewers behind the scenes of the film with some insight and personal inspiration. The featurette, a new TV spot and character banners are available to download and share.

The big-screen adventure enlists Rafiki to relay the story of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

The film stars Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Taka/Scar), Tiffany Boone (Sarabi), Kagiso Lediga (Young Rafiki), Preston Nyman (Zazu), Mads Mikkelsen (Kiros), Thandiwe Newton (Eshe), Lennie James (Obasi), Anika Noni Rose (Afia), Keith David (Masego), John Kani (Rafiki), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), Billy Eichner (Timon), Donald Glover (Simba), Blue Ivy Carter (Kiara), Braelyn Rankins (Young Mufasa), Theo Somolu (Young Taka), Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (Nala). Blending live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery, the all-new feature film is produced by Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen. “Mufasa: The Lion King” features original songs by award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and original score by Dave Metzger.

ALADDIN 3477: THE JINN OF WISDOM | Launches on VOD January 3rd, 2025

In a futuristic Hong Kong, Aladdin, a street-smart orphan with dreams of ascending to the elite class, fixates on Princess Kamala of India. His life takes an unexpected turn when he’s lured into a treacherous quest to Cambodia in search of a fabled lamp. Along for the unpredictable ride is Oomi, a homeless girl whose presence inadvertently thwarts Aladdin’s every scheme.

Their journey introduces them to a captivating sage who claims to be the Jinn of Wisdom. Together, they venture into the vibrant landscapes of Thailand, where Aladdin confronts his haunting past. As they navigate narrow escapes and magical encounters, Aladdin is faced with a pivotal choice: pursue his selfish desires or embrace the unwavering loyalty of Oomi, whose devotion transcends all bounds.

DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA | New Trailer – In Theaters January 10th

Gerard Butler (Plane, Has Fallen series) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Out of Compton, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) return in the sequel to 2018’s action-heist hit Den of Thieves. In DEN OF THIEVES: PANTERA, Big Nick (Butler) is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie (Jackson), who is embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange.

NIGHT OF THE ZOOPOCALYPSE | in Theaters March 7th, 2025

After a meteor unleashes a virus that turns zoo animals into zombies, a mountain lion (David Harbour) and wolf (Gabbi Kosmidis) lead a team of surviving animals to stop the virus and rescue their zoo.

DOPE THEIF | Apple TV+ sets Global Premiere for March 14th

Apple TV+ unveiled a first-look at “Dope Thief,” its new, eight-episode crime drama created and executive produced by Academy Award-nominee Peter Craig (“The Batman” and “Top Gun: Maverick”), executive produced by Academy Award-nominee Ridley Scott (“Gladiator,” “The Martian,” “Blade Runner”) who also directs the first episode, and starring Academy Award-nominee Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta,” “Causeway,” “Bullet Train,”), who also serves as executive producer. “Dope Thief” makes its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, March 14, 2025 followed by new episodes every Friday through April 25.

Based on Dennis Tafoya’s book of the same name, the series follows long-time Philly friends and delinquents who pose as DEA agents to rob an unknown house in the countryside, only to have their small-time grift become a life-and-death enterprise, as they unwittingly reveal and unravel the biggest hidden narcotics corridor on the Eastern seaboard.

The ensemble cast starring alongside Emmy and Tony nominee Henry includes Wagner Moura (“Narcos,” “Civil War”), Marin Ireland (“The Umbrella Academy,” “Sneaky Pete”), Kate Mulgrew (“Star Trek: Prodigy,” “The Magnificent Meyersons,”), Nesta Cooper (“See”), Amir Arison (“The Blacklist”), and Golden Globe-winner Ving Rhames (“Mission: Impossible franchise”).

“Dope Thief” hails from Apple Studios, and is a Scott Free Production. The series is executive produced by Craig alongside Scott, as well as David W. Zucker, Richard Heus, Henry, Jordan Sheehan, Clayton Krueger and Jennifer Wiley-Moxley.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON | In Theaters June 13th

From three-time Oscar^® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.

With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.

As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones).

How to Train Your Dragon is written, produced and directed by DeBlois. It is also produced by three-time Oscar^® nominee Marc Platt (Wicked, La La Land) and Emmy winner Adam Siegel (Drive, 2 Guns). How To Train Your Dragon is part of the Filmed For IMAX^® Program, which offers filmmakers IMAX^® technology to help them deliver the most immersive movie experience to audiences around the world.

Inspired by Cressida Cowell’s New York Times bestselling book series, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise has captivated global audiences, earning four Academy Award^® nominations and grossing more than $1.6 billion at the global box-office. Now, through cutting-edge visual effects, DeBlois transforms his beloved animated saga into a breathtaking live-action spectacle, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with jaw-dropping realism as they discover the true meaning of friendship, courage and destiny.

ELIO | Teaser Trailer and Poster – In Theaters June 13th, 2025

What if the thing you were searching for found you first? In Pixar Animation Studios’ big-screen comedic misadventure, alien-obsessed Elio discovers the answer to that question when he is transported to the Communiverse, an interplanetary paradise that is home to intelligent life from galaxies far and wide. But when he’s mistaken as Earth’s leader, he’ll have to form unexpected bonds, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and make sure he doesn’t lose the opportunity to live out his ultimate dream. The new trailer and poster for Disney and Pixar’s “Elio” are now available.

Opening only in theaters June 13, 2025, “Elio” features the voices of Yonas Kibreab as Elio, Zoe Saldaña as Aunt Olga, Remy Edgerly as Glordon, Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa and Shirley Henderson as OOOOO. The film is directed by Madeline Sharafian (“Burrow” Sparkshort), Domee Shi (“Bao” short, “Turning Red”) and Adrian Molina (co-screenwriter/co-director of “Coco”), and produced by Mary Alice Drumm (associate producer of “Coco”).

THE BAD GUYS 2 | Watch the Trailer – In Theaters August 1st, 2025

Everyone’s favorite felons are back, and this time, they’ve got company.

In the new action-packed chapter from DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed comedy smash about a crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, our now-reformed Bad Guys are trying (very, very hard) to be good, but instead find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals they never saw coming: The Bad Girls.

Based on the New York Times best-selling book series by Aaron Blabey, which has soared from 8 million to over 30 million copies sold since the first film’s release in 2022, The Bad Guys 2 stars the stellar original cast, led by Academy Award^® winner Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf, SAG award nominee Marc Maron as safe-cracker Mr. Snake, SAG award nominee Craig Robinson as master-of disguise Mr. Shark, Grammy winner Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha and Emmy winner Awkwafina as hacker Ms. Tarantula, aka “Webs.”

The returning voice cast is joined by a new trio of comedic powerhouses as The Bad Girls: Oscar^® nominee Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) as Bad Girls leader Kitty Kat, a dangerously clever snow leopard; Oscar^® nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Movie Film) as Pigtail, a brilliant Bulgarian wild boar engineer; and Emmy nominee and comedy icon Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll, Poker Face) as Doom, a wry raven with a knack for deception.

From celebrated returning director Pierre Perifel and producer Damon Ross, The Bad Guys 2also features the alumni voice talents of Emmy nominee Zazie Beetz as Governor Diane Foxington, BAFTA winner Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade, Emmy winner Alex Borstein as Police Chief (now Commissioner) Misty Luggins and Lilly Singh as sensationalist reporter Tiffany Fluffit.

The Bad Guys 2 is co-directed by JP Sans, who served as head of character animation on the first film. The music is by Oscar^®-nominated returning composer Daniel Pemberton.

Apple Original Films announces the definitive documentary on legendary rock icons Fleetwood Mac

Apple Original Films announced the definitive new documentary on rock royalty Fleetwood Mac. The fully authorized documentary is directed by five-time Academy Award nominee and Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Oscar winner Frank Marshall (“The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart,” “The Beach Boys,” “Rather”), and for the first time ever, Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Fleetwood Mac share their extraordinary story in their own words.

“I am fascinated by how this incredible story of enormous musical achievement came about. Fleetwood Mac somehow managed to merge their often chaotic and almost operatic personal lives into their own tale in real time, which then became legend. This will be a film about the music and the people who created it,” said director Frank Marshall.

“We are thrilled to continue our creative partnership with Frank and the talented team at Kennedy/Marshall. Fleetwood Mac are a musical phenomenon, their alchemy almost beyond comprehension. White Horse is grateful and humbled by the extraordinary opportunity to produce a documentary that dives deep into both the talents of each band member individually and the magic that is Fleetwood Mac as a whole. And to do this with the support and reach of Apple is quite wonderful,” said producer Nicholas Ferrall.

Following their fortuitous meeting in 1974, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks reflect on their uncompromising fifty-plus-year history, from their record-breaking recordings and tours – including never-before-seen footage, exclusive new interviews, and archival interviews of the late Christine McVie – through to today. The film will explore how the band’s trials and tribulations, personal resilience, and musical dexterity combined to create songs that have not only stood the test of time but are indeed timeless masterpieces. It will take fans through the highs and lows of their brilliant career, illuminating the exceptional ingredients each member brought to the band’s uncommon alchemy – a musical union that sold more than 220 million records around the world. The documentary will explore what allowed this combination of artists to create singular musical work again and again, and what drew them back together and held them there when every possible pressure, both outside and inside the band, threatened to blow them apart.

Director Frank Marshall produces through The Kennedy/Marshall Company with White Horse Pictures’ Nicholas Ferrall (“The Beatles: Eight Days A Week,” “Stax: Soulsville, U.S.A.”) and Jeanne Elfant Festa (“The Apollo,” “Lucy and Desi”), and Kennedy/Marshall’s Aly Parker (“The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart,” “The Space Race”). White Horse’s Cassidy Hartmann executive produces with Kennedy/Marshall’s Tony Rosenthal. Diamond Doc’s Mark Monroe serves as writer and executive producer.

The currently untitled feature joins the award-winning slate of Apple Original documentary films, including Academy Award winner Davis Guggenheim’s “STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” which swept the Critics Choice Documentary Awards with five wins, alongside four Emmy Award wins; Emmy Award-nominated “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me,” a uniquely raw and intimate documentary spanning her six-year journey into a new light; Emmy Award-nominated “STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces,” featuring legendary writer, producer, director, actor and comedian Steve Martin; and, an upcoming new film about the groundbreaking life and career of seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton; among many others.

Australian Hulu Original Series “The Artful Dodger” Returning for Season 2

All-star cast including Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis and Maia Mitchell returning for a new season of the much-loved drama with a twist.

The eight-episode Season 2 has an all-star returning cast including Thomas Brodie-Sangster (The Queen’s Gambit, Wolf Hall) as Jack Dawkins aka The Artful Dodger, David Thewlis (Landscapers, Fargo) as Fagin, and Maia Mitchell(Good Trouble, Never Goin’ Back) as Lady Belle Fox. They team up with a full ensemble of Australian and New Zealand cast and several new faces in exciting cameos.

Series co-creator James McNamara (The Artful Dodger, The Outrageous True Story of Milky Moor) is leading the writing team with Kate Mulvany (Summer Love, Upright), Dan Knight (The Artful Dodger, Irreverent), and Miranda Tapsell (Top End Bub, Top End Wedding).

Ben Young (The Twelve, Clickbait) and Gracie Otto (The Artful Dodger, Ladies in Black, Heartbreak High) serve as Directors with Jeffrey Walker (The Artful Dodger, The Portable Door, Modern Family) consulting.

To be filmed in 2025 at the historic Callan Park in Sydney, Season 2 will pick up where the heart’s desires of Dodger, Fagin and Lady Belle left off, promising more cunning thievery, snappy humor, life-and-death surgeries, and romance with a twist.

The Artful Dodger is an irreverent follow-up to Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” exploring his adult double life in the far-flung penal colony of Port Victory, Australia. It is a tale of reinvention, betrayal, redemption, and love with a twist. Jack Dawkins is The Artful Dodger, whose fast, pickpocketing fingers have turned into the skilled hands of a surgeon. Lady Belle, the Governor’s daughter, is a brilliant and captivating woman who captures Dodger’s heart and is determined to make history as the first female surgeon. In Season 1, Dodger is torn between the promise of an impossible love in high society, and the instinctive temptation of the criminal underworld he secretly craves. His past returns to haunt him with the arrival of Fagin, luring him back for one last heist.

The Artful Dodger Season 2 is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television’s Curio Pictures. Curio Pictures’ Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner are Executive Producer/Producers, with James McNamara as Executive Producer and Cameron Welsh (Foundation, Krypton) as Series Producer. The series was co-created by James McNamara, David Maher and David Taylor.

NSW State Government is supporting Season 2 through Screen NSW’s Made In NSW fund and the PDV Rebate.