Masterpiece Brings Back 'Sanditon,' Renews Show For Two New Seasons

When it was announced Andrew Davies was taking on Sanditon, the final, unfinished novel written by Jane Austen, there were high hopes around the Janite fandom. Davies, whose 1995 Pride & Prejudice is still considered the gold standard, had worked on four adaptations of Austen's six famous novels, including Sense & Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, and Emma. But the series didn't capture the hoped-for ratings in the U.K., and it was canceled before the series even made it to America. Fans hoped Masterpiece might step in and rescue the series, but it too quietly passed after the show's run in early 2020.

But some projects will not go down without a fight. The Sanditon fandom, for example, has been relentless in its push to bring the show back after its cliffhanger ending that left everyone unsatisfied. The #SaveSanditon hashtag has been following Jane Austen projects around the web, and even other streamers looking for content possibilities have done some testing of the waters on Twitter.

Well, it seems Masterpiece has heard the fandom and has decided to commit. The PBS production has teamed up with BritBox UK to revive the series for not one but two more seasons. Andrew Davies will be back to write "several" episodes and producer, alongside Ripper Street's Justin Young, who will take the lead writer and executive producer role. Moreover, ITV will also be in the game and air the series on its linear channel following the premiere window on BritBox UK.