Who plays Stephen Gardiner in Wolf Hall and why was Mark Gatiss recast?

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As a dedicated follower of historical dramas, I must admit that the recasting of Stephen Gardiner in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light has taken me aback, much like when my history teacher replaced Mr. Blackboard with Mr. Whiteboard during my school days.

In The Mirror and The Light, a potentially menacing figure reappears from the initial Wolf Hall novel – yet it’s possible that his new appearance may be unfamiliar to some readers.

The reason for this change is due to the fact that the character of Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, along with the Duke of Norfolk, Gregory Cromwell, and Lady Rochford, are among several roles that will be played by different actors in the upcoming series sequel.

Actor Mark Gatiss, known for his roles in Doctor Who and Sherlock, played Gardiner during the initial season. He infused humor into his performance, making the character’s moments of dark wit particularly effective as Bishop, a cunning figure, tries to outsmart Thomas Cromwell (portrayed by Mark Rylance).

In Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light, he’s back to his familiar antics, as his unexpected reappearance at the king’s court could potentially endanger the previously unassailable position of Cromwell.

Here’s a rundown on the fresh face portraying Gardiner in season 2, along with some speculations regarding why Gatiss was unable to return to this long-awaited continuation of the series.

Who plays Stephen Gardiner in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light?

Alex Jennings plays Bishop Stephen Gardiner in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light.

The actor has earned recognition through his performances on the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre stages, and it’s worth noting that this isn’t his initial screen endeavor linked to the British royal family.

Instead, it’s worth noting that Jennings has portrayed notable historical figures such as Prince Charles in the critically-acclaimed 2006 movie “The Queen”, Edward VIII in the Netflix series “The Crown”, and Leopold I of Belgium in the ITV drama “Victoria”.

Among his other works are A Very English Scandal, This is Going to Hurt, A Royal Scandal of Extraordinary Proportions, and a dispute with the post office titled Mr. Bates vs The Post Office. In these productions, he portrayed Conservative Member of Parliament James Arbuthnot.

Additionally, Jennings received a nomination for a BAFTA Television Award during the third installment of the ITV crime series Unforgotten.

Although there’s been a significant change in the character, Jennings still maintains some characteristics similar to Gatiss’s portrayal of Gardiner, particularly his delight in provoking disputes and causing trouble for Cromwell.

Why was Mark Gatiss recast in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light?

Unfortunately, Mark Gatiss was unable to reprise his role as Stephen Gardiner in “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light” because of a scheduling complication.

The representative for the actor expressed regret that he wouldn’t get another chance to play Gardiner in the second season of Wolf Hall.

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2024-12-02 01:03