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Sanditon Season 2: Why The Show Was Canceled (& Could It Still Happen?)
Now that Sanditon season 1 has released on both ITV and PBS, fans across the globe want to know if Sanditon season 2 will happen. And if new episodes are indeed on the way, when will they release and what will they be about? Based on Jane Austen's unfinished novel, Sanditon season 1 originally aired on ITV in late 2019, and then released on PBS in early 2020. Andrew Davies adapted the story for television.
Sanditon season 1 focuses on protagonist Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams), a young woman who spends a summer at the titular seaside resort. As the wealthy Parker family attempts to create social buzz for Sanditon, Charlotte discovers that life on the coast is much different than her modest upbringing. Still, she immerses herself into a new adventure, and forms a strong bond with the charming yet emotionally distant Sidney Parker (Theo James). As a whole, Sanditon season 1 explores how various romantic relationships are affected by power and privilege, with all the drama culminating at a Midsummer Ball.
In the Sanditon season 1 finale, a simple twist of fate changes everything for Charlotte and Sidney. In this world, there's more to consider than true love and long-time happiness, most notably the future of Sanditon and the Parker family legacy. Here's everything we expect for Sanditon season 2.
Sanditon Season 2 Renewal: Why It Was Canceled
ITV cancelled Sanditon in December 2019, and PBS has stated on Twitter that "there are no plans for another season." The series just didn't get the audience the network needed to continue, despite developing a cult following. So, on the surface, it appears that Davies' adaption is over. However, Sanditon season 2 could still happen if the series becomes a hit in the United States, as both the official show Instagram account and PBS Masterpiece Twitter account have teased this possibility. The Sanditon season 1 finale aired on February 23, so expect PBS to assess streaming numbers for several weeks, or even several months, before making any type of renewal decision.
When Could Sanditon Season 2 Release?
Even though Sanditon season 1 hasn't been a major critical hit, general audiences seem happy with their viewing experience. If PBS decides to capitalize on the streaming potential, a renewal will be announced during the first half of 2020, which means that filming and post-production could spill over into 2021. At this point, it seems likely that Sanditon season 2, if ordered, would release in the latter half of 2021 or early 2022.
What Sanditon Season 2'S Story Would Be About
Since Austen's unfinished novel has been continued by other authors and adapted elsewhere over the years, PBS undoubtedly has interest in telling their own story, perhaps in collaboration with ITV. In fact, Davies acknowledged that he would like to make a second season before the series premiered, telling Radio Times, “I hope we’ve ended at a point where the audience is going to say: well you can’t end it at that!” And so that explains why Charlotte is left heart-broken in the Sanditon season 1 finale, as Sidney becomes engaged to Eliza Campion (Ruth Kearney) out of necessity. He tracks down Charlotte's carriage as she leaves town, but only to essentially say "my bad."
There's plenty to explore in Sanditon season 2 with side characters and subplots, but viewers seem most invested in Charlotte's character arc. In addition, Williams appears to be a star-on-the-rise, so PBS may choose to greenlight a second season because of her industry appeal. So, what's next? Most likely, another twist of fate will bring Charlotte back to the seaside resort in Sanditon season 2, where she'll deal with the same ol' drama while considering potential suitors, possibly James Stringer (Leo Suter), while in search of true love.
