Kane Dane
The BBC improvement of Noughts + Crosses has changed its ending considerably. The series provided a new timeline for the plot, first made famous in the novels of Malorie Blackman, not to tear away Sephy Hadley (Masali Baduza) and Callum McGregor (Jack Rowan) in the same tragic situation as the book. This has left even more threads available for discovery in the second season, among other items.
It has not been confirmed as things stand, that we are going to get a second iteration of the show on BBC One. We note, however, that the story covers five books so that even more source material can be dealt with. Those who participated in the show also explored the potential to extend the TV version further.
Since, contrary to the book, Callum was still alive at the end of the revised Noughts & Crosses story, we know now that Jack’s continued participation will be a possibility. Instead of being ruthlessly accomplished for his part in the abduction of Sephy, Callum could escape with her. Leaving things on a cliffhanger, the last scene showed them running and waiting for their baby to be born.
Renewal Status:
The BBC has yet to order a continuation of the Noughts + Crosses formally, but there is plenty of source material to use if it wants to adapt Blackman’s books further.
Release Date:
Filming began in South Africa for the first season in November 2018, launching the show 16 months later. This would then usually be appropriate for a second season to begin planning and filming by the end of 2024, with a view to an early 2024 air date.
Cast Details:
The cast of season 2 will include:
- Masali Baduza as Persephone “Sephy” Hadley
- Jack Rowan as Callum McGregor
- Helen Baxendale as Meggie McGregor
- Paterson Joseph as Home Secretary Kamal Hadley
- Kiké Brimah as Minerva Hadley
- Bonnie Mbuli as Jasmine Hadley
Plot Details:
Noughts + Crosses’ first season adapts the 2001 novel of the same name, with Knife Edge in 2004 being the next in the series. Three more books will follow, with one more entry in the series – End Game – in research – Checkmate (2005), Double Cross (2008), and Crossfire (2019).
While you would expect Knife Edge to adapt to season two, the conclusion of the first season of Noughts + Crosses seems to vary from the first book’s plot, which may have significant repercussions for the following. Callum is executed after his ties with Sephy, and the fact that she bears his child is revealed. Noughts + Crosses.
Noughts + Crosses (the television series) ends with the two lovers alive but running. Since Knife Edge has Sephy and Callum’s brother Jude both reeling from his death, it is difficult to see how the BBC will still make a faithful adaptation to Callum’s screen of the novel.
