This post contains SPOILERS for season 2 of His Dark Materials.
Lin-Manuel Miranda has said that he would like to return for the third season of His Dark Materials. The second season of HBO’s fantasy drama television show had its season finale on December 28 and left many fans eager for the third and final season, which was given the green light earlier this week. The show follows Lyra Belacqua, played by Dafne Keen of Logan fame. It begins in a world where humans have animal companions called daemons, visible manifestations of their souls. Lyra soon discovers a conspiracy involving her parents, including kidnapping and an unknown material called ‘Dust.’
Miranda plays the aeronaut cowboy Lee Scoresby who finds himself fighting for and protecting Lyra during her journey. Scoresby is always accompanied by his daemon Hester, who takes the form of a rabbit. Unfortunately, in the season two finale, Scoresby valiantly gives his life while single-handedly fighting off agents sent to hunt down Lyra. While serving as a barrier, Scoresby bravely sent his new friend John Parry ahead to meet up with his son Will, who is currently traveling with Lyra, letting the two finally reconnect after years of separation.
In an interview with Variety, Miranda stated that he would love to return to the world of His Dark Materials for season three, even if his character had passed away during one of the first important battles. After being asked if Scoresby and Hester would return after death like in the third book, Miranda said:
“Nothing has been written in stone or finalized, but I’ve always told them this is enormous fun for me and I serve at the pleasure of Bad Wolf Productions. If they see fit for Lee and Hester to return in corporeal or non-corporeal form, I’ll answer the call. But they just got the green light, so I don’t even know how much exists and is written yet.”
In the third book of the series, The Amber Spyglass, Scoresby returns as a ghost to help Lyra and Will fulfill their objectives, ultimately fighting in the war and fighting against creatures known as spectres that eat the souls of adult humans. This is why Miranda brings up a “non-corporeal form,” which may be insinuating that the only way his character could return to the narrative is as a ghost. Unfortunately, in the television show, Lyra has not yet learned of Scoresby’s death, and this will most likely be a main plot point early on in the third season.
The third season of this HBO show will be the most expansive and impressive yet, having Lyra’s father, the illustrious Lord Asriel, played by the legendary James McAvoy, lead an all-out war against the main antagonists, known as the Magisterium. Scoresby plays an important role in the war and Lyra's character arc, who already stated in the season finale she feels herself changing. And even if Scoresby cannot return because Miranda is a workhorse who is constantly juggling multiple projects, he has still impacted the show greatly and created a memorable character. Season two of His Dark Materials will begin production in 2021.
Source: Variety