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The Artful Dodger (2023 TV series)
Australian television series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Artful Dodger is an Australian historical heist drama television series produced by Sony Pictures Television's Curio Pictures and Beach Road Pictures for the streaming service Disney+. It is a sequel to the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist (1838).[2] It features Thomas Brodie-Sangster as the eponymous Artful Dodger, David Thewlis as Fagin, and Maia Mitchell as the new character of Lady Belle Fox. The series was created by James McNamara, David Maher, and David Taylor. It is directed and produced by Jeffrey Walker. Also directing are Corrie Chen and Gracie Otto. In November 2024, the series was renewed for a second season.
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Synopsis
In 1850s Australia, Jack Dawkins, a former Royal Navy surgeon, establishes himself as a respected young doctor. When an old acquaintance, Fagin, resurfaces, it forces Jack, once a London-based pickpocket known as the "Artful Dodger", back into a life of crime. Jack forms an attachment to the governor's daughter, Lady Belle Fox, who aspires to be a surgeon. As Jack's past intersects with the present and external forces jeopardise his goals, his life unravels, raising questions about whether he can genuinely reshape his life in the colony as he had envisioned.[3]
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Cast and characters
Main
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Jack Dawkins / Artful Dodger, who was busted out of prison and seconded to the Royal Navy where his skilled fingers turned him into a surgeon. Decorated in the Crimean War for his medical work, he was recommended to serve in the colony.
- Finn Treacy portrays the young Artful Dodger during flashbacks
- David Thewlis as Norbert Fagin, Jack's former surrogate father and a convicted thief. Transported to Port Victory as a criminal, he finds Jack and uses their history to his advantage. Jack allows Fagin to explore the underside of society for his grift and benefit.
- Maia Mitchell as Lady Belle Fox, the strong-willed daughter of the governor of Port Victory who opposes societal norms. She studies medical literature from which she brings innovations to the local hospital, and wants Jack to train her to become the first female surgeon. She also serves as Jack's primary love interest.
- Damon Herriman as Captain Lucien Gaines, the cunning and zealous but often cruel commander of the colony's soldiers in Port Victory
Supporting
- Tim Minchin as Darius Cracksworth, the harbour master of Port Victory
- Miranda Tapsell as Frances "Red" Scrubbs, a notorious thief and wanted criminal
- Luke Carroll as Tim Billiberllary, an assistant at the local hospital and Jack's friend
- Kym Gyngell as Professor Alistair McGregor, the alcoholic chief surgeon and Jack's superior
- Vivienne Awosoga as Hetty Baggett, the head nurse at the local hospital
- Nicholas Burton as Dr. Rainsford Sneed, a surgeon and Jack's main rival
- Susie Porter as Lady Jane Fox, the governor's shrewd yet compassionate wife
- Damien Garvey as Governor Edmund Fox, the governor of Port Victory
- Lucy-Rose Leonard as Lady Fanny Fox, Belle's younger sister, who resents her for refusing to follow social convention
- Jessica De Gouw as Peggy Gaines, Lucien's wife and Darius' lover
- Andrea Demetriades as Marianne Cracksworth, Darius' sister
- Albert Latailakepa as Aputi Savea, a boxing champ and gravedigger
- Justin Smith as Tinkler Dunckett, the governor's drinking companion
- Tom Budge as Hon. Mortimer Smales, a rich suitor invited to Port Victory by the governor to marry one of his daughters
- Jude Hyland as Charlie Salt, a street urchin
- Stephen Ryan as Edwin, the governor's butler
- Brigid Zengeni as Rosemary "Rotty" Falkirk, the bartender and owner of a tavern frequented by Jack
- Fayssal Bazzi as Captain Sebastian Grimm, a British officer whom Jack previously served under during the Crimean War
- Huw Higginson as Father Cruikshanks, Port Victory's sinful priest
- Ezekiel Simat as Ned Monks, a petty criminal and the half-brother of Oliver Twist, who reemerges to torment Jack
- Michael Sheasby as Sergeant Bramwell, a high-ranking soldier serving under Lucien
- Aljin Abella as Bayani "Flashbang" Rivera, an explosive specialist and Jack's friend
- Maua Fuifui as Grunters, Darius' physically imposing henchman
- Nicholas Hope as Justice Micawber, Port Victory's judge
- Hal Cumpston as Oliver Twist, Jack's former friend who is partially responsible for his downfall, now a wealthy gentleman
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Episodes
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Production
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Development
The project was announced in 2022.[6][7] The eight-part series is a co-production between Sony Pictures Television's Curio Pictures and Beach Road Pictures. Jo Porter represents Curio Pictures as executive producer, while David Maher and David Taylor executive produce for Beach Road Pictures.[8]
It was created by James McNamara, David Maher and David Taylor. Writers on the series include McNamara, Andrew Knight, Vivienne Walshe and Dan Knight, with Miranda Tapsell as a story consultant. It is produced by Jeffrey Walker, who is also a director alongside Corrie Chen and Gracie Otto.[9]
On 20 November 2024, Disney announced that The Artful Dodger had been renewed for a second season at their APAC (Asia Pacific) showcase event in Singapore. Filming for the second season took place between February and May 2025 at Callan Park in Sydney, Australia.
Co-creator James McNamara will return as an executive producer and writer for the second season, with writers joining including Kate Mulvany, Dan Knight and Miranda Tapsell. Ben Young and Gracie Otto were announced as directors, with Jeffrey Walker consulting. Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner will be both executive producers and producers for the series, joined by McNamara also executive producing and Cameron Welsh as producer.[10]
Casting
In November 2022, the lead cast of David Thewlis, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Maia Mitchell was confirmed.[11] Brodie-Sangster and Mitchell read through real-life historical case files from the era and had medical experts to help them in their roles.[12] The main cast is expected to return for the second season.
The cast also includes a number of Australian actors, including Damon Herriman, Miranda Tapsell, Tim Minchin and Susie Porter.[13]
Filming
Filming took place in Sydney, New South Wales.[14] Filming on the series took five months.[15] The production had access to a former psychiatric hospital precinct in Sydney, preserved from the 19th century with the production surrounding the existing sandstone buildings with standing sets. Filming locations also included Elizabeth Farm in the Western Sydney suburbs, Rookwood Cemetery, Callan Park, and the northern headland of Botany Bay, Cape Banks.[16]
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Broadcast
The series was released in Australia on streaming service Disney+, via its Star hub, on 29 November 2023.[17][18] Internationally, it also premiered on Star+ in Latin America and on Hulu in the United States.[17]
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the series premiered on Disney+ on 17 January 2024.[19]
Reception
Luke Buckmaster in The Guardian gave it four stars out of five, described it as “darkly comedic”, and praised the editing for helping the series maintain a “wild energy”.[20] Maggie Lovitt for Collider described a “stellar cast, sumptuous costumes, plucky score, and surprising story, the series is easily one of the best—and most refreshing—to debut on the streamer this year. “[21] Dan Einav in The Financial Times praised the performances, saying “Thewlis steals every scene” and “Brodie-Sangster is well-cast as a young man caught between his innate impish spirit and efforts to be a responsible professional.”[22]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 has an approval rating of 92% based on reviews from 25 critics. Its critics consensus reads, “Given roguish gravitas by the well-cast Thomas Brodie-Sangster and David Thewlis, The Artful Dodger picks Dickens' pocket and makes the most of his iconic creation.”[23]
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References
External links
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