The final episode of the second season of World on Fire airs tonight and fans are already longing for a third season.
The BBC show tells the story of multiple lives of ordinary civilians across Europe during the outbreak of World War II.
The first season spanned from March 1939 to July 1940, while the second season covered the events from October 1940 to May 1941.
Of the drama, creator Peter Bowker said, “As always, we tell stories that have an unforced and not always comfortable contemporary resonance, stories that demonstrate both human resilience and human folly, and tales of ordinary lives in extraordinary times.”
“Historical drama shouldn’t be about nostalgia, and I hope this show won’t be viewed that way.” It’s about asking questions of the present by questioning stories from our past.
Exciting: The final episode of World on Fire season 2 airs tonight and fans are already clamoring for a third season
Plot: The BBC show tells the story of multiple lives of ordinary civilians across Europe during the outbreak of World War II
“And at the heart of those stories, from multiple perspectives, is the single question: ‘If you had been there, what would you have done?’
There were some cast changes in the last season: Helen Hunt, Sean Bean and Arthur Darvill left the series.
New characters were then introduced, including stars like Mark Bonnar and Gregg Sulkin.
Read on to find out about the current cast and everything you need to know about World on Fire Season 3.
Will there be a third season?
Unconfirmed: World on Fire season 3 has not yet been confirmed, but season 2 has yet to be completed
The third season of World on Fire is not yet confirmed, but the second season is yet to come.
Although there was no word from the BBC, series creator Peter Bowker has already confirmed his desire to continue the series.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com as the first season aired, Peter revealed that he had already outlined plans for additional seasons that would cover more years of the war.
He said, “I know what happens in six shows with the main characters.” When you introduce a show, people will often ask, “What happens in season 4, episode 3? What happens to this character?” “You have to know and you can’t be English.”
When would the next series air?
Delayed: When a third season gets the green light, fans hope they won’t have to wait as long for it as they did for season two
When a third season gets the green light, fans hope they won’t have to wait as long for it as they did for season two.
The first season of the drama was a smash hit when it aired in 2019 and it wasn’t long before a second season was announced.
However, the planned shooting in 2020 was delayed by the Covid 19 pandemic, so fans had to wait four years for the second season.
Assuming production can run much more smoothly this time around, a third season could hopefully air late next year or in 2025.
Which stars could return?
Jonah Hauer King as Harry Chase
Starring: Jonah Hauer-King plays Harry Chase, a talented translator who falls into a love triangle between his English girlfriend Lois and his new Polish love Kasia before joining the war effort
Jonah Hauer-King plays Harry Chase, a talented translator who gets caught up in a love triangle between his English girlfriend Lois and his new Polish love Kasia before joining the war effort.
He soon joins the war effort after the outbreak of World War II, spending much of the second series fighting in North Africa.
Lesley Manville as Robina Chase
Big name: Lesley Manville plays Harry’s wealthy and emotionally repressed mother, Robina, who disapproves of both his love interests
Lesley Manville plays Harry’s wealthy and emotionally repressed mother, Robina, who disapproves of both his love interests.
Julia Brown as Lois Bennett
Character: Julia Brown’s Lois begins as a factory worker and singer performing for the troops of ENSA before later becoming an ambulance driver
Julia Brown’s Lois starts out as a factory worker and singer performing for the troops of ENSA before later becoming an ambulance driver.
She has a baby daughter named Vera with Harry and was engaged to Vernon Hunter prior to his death in the season 2 premiere.
Zofia Wichlacz as Kasia Tomaszeski
Resistance fighter: Zofia Wichłacz plays Kasia Tomaszeski, Harry’s wife who is fighting for the resistance in Poland
Zofia Wichłacz plays Kasia Tomaszeski, Harry’s wife who is fighting for the resistance in Poland.
In the second season, after fleeing to Britain, she is recruited to work for MI5 to track down enemy agents and return to her home country.
Parker Sawyers as Albert Fallou
Parker Sawyers’ Albert Fallou is a French gay jazz musician who is arrested and sent to a forced labor camp.
Eugenie Derouand as Henriette Guilbert
Secrets: Henriette Guilbert, played by Eugenie Derouand, is a nurse in Paris who hides her Jewish heritage while trying to smuggle French prisoners of war out of the hospital
Henriette Guilbert, played by Eugenie Derouand, is a nurse in Paris who hides her Jewish heritage while trying to smuggle French prisoners of war out of the hospital.
Mark Bonnar as Sir James Danemere
Mark Bonnar joined the cast in season two as Sir James Danemere, who begins a flirtatious relationship with Robina while staying at her home.
He is introduced as a civil servant before it is revealed that he is a member of military intelligence.
Gregg Sulkin as David
New Character: Gregg Sulkin also joined the cast in season two, playing David – a Jewish RAF fighter pilot based in Manchester
Gregg Sulkin also joined the cast in season two, playing David – a Jewish RAF fighter pilot based in Manchester.
During a dangerous mission in northern France, he is shot down and has to flee and hide.
Ahad Raza Mir as Rajib Pal
Important: Ahad Raza Mir plays the new character Rajib Pal, the captain of an engineer unit of the British Indian Army stationed in North Africa
Ahad Raza Mir plays new character Rajib Pal, the captain of a British Indian Army engineering unit stationed in North Africa.
Miriam Schiweck as Marga
New Perspective: Miriam Schiweck joined the second season as Marga Kühne, a 16-year-old German schoolgirl and member of the Bund Deutscher Mädels
Miriam Schiweck joined the season two cast as Marga Kühne, a 16-year-old German schoolgirl and member of the Bund Deutscher Mädels.
She is selected to participate in the Lebensborn program, where she becomes pregnant by Sturmbannführer Greiser.
Helen Hunt as Nancy Campbell
Starring: In season one, Helen Hunt played Nancy Campbell, an American journalist struggling to get the truth out of Berlin
In season one, Helen Hunt played Nancy Campbell, an American journalist struggling to get the truth out of Berlin.
She didn’t appear in season two because she no longer fit into the story, but creator Peter said he wanted her to return alongside Brian J. Smith’s “Webster.”
Speaking to Variety, he said, “For both.” [Helen Hunt] And [Brian J. Smith]who plays Webster, I’d hope there’s room for a return in Season 3 given the American involvement.
Possible return? She didn’t appear in season two because she no longer fit into the story, but creator Peter said he wanted her to return alongside Brian J. Smith’s “Webster.”
“I think sometimes you get to the point where you’re obviously looking at stories on someone as good as Helen.” And you’re looking so closely.
“You think, ‘Is this expanding the story or is it growing because I would really love it if Helen was there?’
“There is a gap between the expulsion of American journalists from Berlin and the time before the Americans entered the war [including her] doesn’t really fit the story. But if possible, I’d love to see both characters come back.’
Which stars will not return?
Blake Harrison as Stan Raddings
RIP: One popular character that’s almost certainly not coming back is Blake Harrison’s Stan Raddings
One popular character that’s almost certainly not coming back is Blake Harrison’s Stan Raddings.
Stan is Harry’s platoon leader and fights by his side in Africa during season two, but was tragically killed in last week’s episode.
Harry is left dehydrated and listless – and, against the advice of his fellow guides, decides to take the men on a mission across the desert to find water.
However, they are stunned when the group is attacked by enemy soldiers in the middle of the night.
Devastating: Stan is Harry’s platoon leader and fights alongside him in Africa during season two, but was tragically killed in last week’s episode
Some of the soldiers flee in terror, but Harry and Stan remain to fight the enemy.
When they are attacked by a soldier at close range, Stan steps out of the barricade to hit him – but is shot in the process.
Harry desperately tries to perform CPR but is unable to save his friend – and the train is devastated.
Cel Spellman as Joe Broughton
Another character who is sure not to return is Cel Spellman’s Joe Broughton, who is also killed off in season two.
Joe is a soldier from Leeds and another member of Harry’s platoon who is killed in a sandstorm during Operation Compass.