Warning: SPOILERS for Sanditon Season 2's Finale
The Jane Austen series Sanditon will return for season 3 and here's everything we know. Originally canceled in December 2019, Sanditon's vocal and loyal audience were heard and the series was renewed for seasons 2 and 3. However, Sanditon's comeback was dealt a blow when Theo James decided not to return as the series' romantic lead, Sidney Parker. Sanditon's producers were forced to write out Sidney and abandon their planned continuation of Mr. Parker's love story with Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams).
Sanditon season 2 brought Charlotte back to the seaside town on England's southern coast and introduced new characters, including Charlotte's spritely younger sister, Alison (Rosie Graham). Sanditon also introduced two new suitors for Miss Heywood: the brooding Alexander Colbourne (Ben Lloyd-Hughes) and the seemingly gallant Colonel Francis Lennox (Tom Weston-Jones), whose British Army regiment camped outside of Sanditon and caused chaos in the town. Meanwhile, Georgiana Lambe (Crystal Clarke) was romantically pursued by eccentric artist Charles Lockhart (Alexander Vhalos) while Sir Edward Denham (Jack Fox) sought to ruin the life of Lady Esther Babington (Charlotte Spencer) when Clara Brereton (Lilu Sacofsky) returned to Sanditon pregnant with her and Edward's son.
Sanditon season 2 can be lauded for how Sidney's absence became a focal point in the show, strengthening the stories of Charlotte, Georgiana, and Sidney's brothers, Tom (Kris Marshall) and Arthur Parker (Turlough Convery). Not only did Charlotte properly mourn Sidney, she decided she didn't want to marry and chose to become a governess to Colbourne's young daughter, Leonora (Flora Mitchell), and troubled niece, Augusta (Eloise Webb). Sanditon season 2 definitely left audiences wanting to know how it all ends in Sanditon season 3.
Sanditon Season 3 Filming Details
Sanditon seasons 2 and 3 were commissioned together and were filmed back-to-back with most of the original cast from season 1 returning, with the exception of Theo James (Sidney Parker), Mark Stanley (Lord Babington), and Leo Suter (James Stringer). However, several new characters were introduced in Sanditon season 2 who could also continue on in season 3. Production on Sanditon seasons 2 and 3 began in July 2021 and wrapped in December 2021.
When Sanditon Season 3 Could Release
Sanditon season 3 will release in 2023. This was announced at the end of Sanditon's season 2 finale, which featured a quick teaser that the new season of Sanditon arrives next year. It also showed Charlotte seeing Alexander Colbourne's return to Sanditon at a ball with Augusta. So while the exact date for Sanditon season 3 isn't yet known, there is about one more year to go before Sanditon devotees can see what happens next.
Sanditon Season 3 Story Details
Sanditon season 2 ended with a shock that Charlotte is engaged to Ralph, the farmer her father wanted her to marry. Whether or not Miss Heywood goes through with the marriage or if Alexander Colbourne will return to her life is one of the biggest questions for Sanditon season 3 to answer. Otherwise, Sanditon season 2 wrapped up its major storylines: Alison married Captain Fraser, Tom and Arthur Parker finally got Colonel Lennox to pay the money he owed to the town, Georgiana learned that Charles Lockhart was the fiend scheming to marry her for her fortune, and Sir Edward Denham is now being punished by Lady Denham for his cruel plot to ruin Esther and marry Clara to acquire the Denham fortune through their son.
Sanditon season 3 has big plot threads to follow up. What will happen to Charlotte and will she marry a man she deserves? When Alexander Colbourne returns to Sanditon, will he have changed his ways to become worthy of Charlotte? Georgiana also learned her mother is alive and she has decided to find her. Esther is also now raising Edward and Clara's son, George, as her own but how will Lord Babington react? Sanditon season 3 is potentially the end of the series so its loyal audience hopes it will wrap up in a fulfilling way.
Sanditon Season 2 is available to stream on Masterpiece PBS.