Disney+ renews The Artful Dodger for season 3 — and says it’s the last

Here we go again with Disney+ and its ongoing love affair with classic British literature — this time, The Artful Dodger gets the nod for a third season. But, as it happens, this will be its last outing. If you’ve missed the run-up, this is the streamer’s locally made drama riffing on Charles Dickens’ 1838 novel, carrying us some 15 years down the line from Oliver Twist.

The Artful Dodger dropped back in 2023 and has since become the most-watched Australian original ever on Disney+.

Third and final caper

So, Thomas Brodie-Sangster (yes, him from ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ and the ‘Maze Runner’ lot) is back as Jack Dawkins — otherwise known as the Artful Dodger. After all this time, he’s swapped picking pockets for picking up a scalpel. Naturally, you’d be daft to think old habits wouldn’t catch up with him: the whole hook for the series is Dodger being lured back to the London underworld, just as he’s getting comfortable as a surgeon. They do say the past is never really past, especially if you live in Victorian England.

Supporting cast remains recognisable, too: David Thewlis returns as the ever-intriguing Fagin, and Maia Mitchell is back as Lady Belle Fox — both key faces since season one. There’ll be some familiar hands behind the camera: Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner continue executive producing (and producing, because why have just one job), Chris Martin-Jones is series producer, and directors Ben Young and Ben C. Lucas are also sticking around. In effect, if you’ve liked what’s come so far, it’s the same team for this last haul.

Audience and big numbers

Worth remembering, this isn’t just a critical darling — the first run landed a rock-solid 92% on Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer), with everyday punters rating it an even better 96% Popcornmeter. Season two (which just dropped this year, in case you’ve missed it) managed to squeak out an even more flattering 100% Tomatometer score, with a matching 96% again for audience approval. In short: nobody’s embarrassed about this show in the Disney+ offices.

Here’s how Disney’s local boss, Kylie Watson-Wheeler, put it about the new series and its renewal:

'The renewal is a testament to the quality of this show, and everyone involved in making it.'

If you’re wondering when you can actually see season three — well, that’s still up in the air. Production should kick off in Sydney in the coming months, but Disney+ hasn’t committed to a date for the final episodes. Until a release window lands, it’s a matter of hanging about and waiting — just like Dodger himself would, probably with a pocket watch he’d nicked off someone richer.