Successful Premier of “Wolf Hall”: The Mirror and the Light”
The U.K. premiere of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light last year garnered enthusiastic reviews, with critics describing it as “breathtakingly beautiful” and “a complete triumph.” However, director Peter Kosminsky reveals that the sequel to 2015’s Wolf Hall almost didn’t make it to production at all.
Near Cancellation of Production
“We were shutting down just six weeks before production; there was simply no way around it,” Kosminsky recalls, referring to the second season, which adapts the final book in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy focused on Thomas Cromwell, an advisor to Henry VIII. “We had trimmed the budget significantly but still found ourselves far short on funds.” In a pivotal late-night meeting, Kosminsky and an executive producer decided to forgo parts of their fees to keep the project alive. Writer Peter Straughan and lead actor Mark Rylance later joined this effort, also agreeing to significant salary reductions.
Production Challenges and Much-Awaited Release
This financial agreement facilitated the start of shooting, allowing U.S. audiences to catch the new series beginning Sunday night on Masterpiece on PBS, almost a decade after the first season. The six-part drama is produced with lavish period detail, utilizing candlelight and authentic Tudor-era locations, and features the fine performances of renowned British actors—elements that contributed to Wolf Hall receiving a Golden Globe, a Peabody, and eight Emmy nominations in 2015 and 2016. Yet, the creative team faced severe funding challenges that underscore the difficulties encountered by high-end British dramas not supported by streaming services.
Collaboration with Hilary Mantel
When the original Wolf Hall debuted in 2015, the source material for The Mirror & the Light was still incomplete. Author Hilary Mantel expressed the difficulty in writing about Cromwell’s later life, despite portraying him in a sympathetic light throughout her novels. The production team had anticipated a sequel once the novel was finished, considering that executive producer Colin Callender had secured options for all the books and the first season had been well received. Mantel’s collaboration with Kosminsky deepened during the writing of the final novel, as she shared extensive excerpts seeking his feedback.
Tragic Loss and Resilient Production
As the adaptation process commenced, tragedy struck when Mantel passed away from a stroke in September 2022, with her work on the novel nearly complete. Kosminsky mentioned that the production team contemplated canceling the second season to honor her memory but ultimately decided to proceed as a tribute to Mantel. “Without the support from the BBC and Masterpiece during that challenging time, the outcome could have been quite different,” he noted.
Budget Constraints and Production Solutions
The production faced numerous obstacles, including astronomical increases in costs associated with hiring stars and securing shooting locations at historic venues, among other financial pressures. According to producer Colin Callender, the price of production in England has surged significantly, compounded by the entry of U.S. streaming services and rising living costs. Furthermore, the insurance costs for this project were described as “crippling.” Callender highlighted that these financial issues have become a widespread concern within the British entertainment industry, especially affecting high-budget dramas.
The Future of British Drama
Despite the series making it to air, its challenges reflect the broader difficulties facing producers of projects for U.K. public service channels. Kosminsky has submitted testimonies to a U.K. parliamentary committee asserting that The Mirror and the Light could not be produced under current conditions, as many potential funding partners opt for full ownership of intellectual properties rather than co-productions. With U.K. inflation impacting funding availability, Kosminsky along with other producers expressed concerns about projects greenlit but stalled due to financial issues.
