'Wolf Hall' Director Cuts Outdoor Scenes Due to Funding Shortfalls

Peter Kosminsky, director of the acclaimed historical drama 'Wolf Hall', revealed that the production of its second series faced significant funding challenges, leading to the elimination of nearly all exterior scenes. In an interview, Kosminsky explained that the series shifted focus to more intimate settings, resulting in a series of editorial cuts that included costumes, props, and locations. A planned joust scene, described as extraordinary by the original novelist Hilary Mantel, was notably scrapped just six weeks before production. To address the funding issues, Kosminsky, lead actor Sir Mark Rylance, and screenwriter Peter Straughan agreed to take substantial pay cuts. He also called for a 5% levy on UK subscription streaming revenues to support a British cultural fund, warning that the industry is at risk without financial changes. The second series, based on Mantel's works, debuted in 2024 and has been criticized for these budgetary constraints.