Theo James’ Sidney Parker Won’t Return for ‘Sanditon’ Seasons 2 and 3
Cue the mass cries of horror. Theo James will not return for Sanditon‘s newly-announced second and third seasons at PBS.
The actor released a statement via PBS, revealing the reasoning behind his decision to not reprise his role as Sidney Parker. “Although I relished playing Sidney, for me, I’ve always maintained that his journey concluded as I wanted it to,” the actor’s statement begins.
“The broken fairy-tale like ending between Charlotte and Sidney is different, unique and so interesting to me and I wish the cast and crew of Sanditon every success with future series,” he added. This is definitely not the news fans were hoping to hear after their lengthy campaign to salvage the Jane Austen adaptation.
The series is based on Austen’s last unfinished novel and was developed by writer Andrew Davies who will return as an executive producer for Seasons 2 and 3. Season 1 followed the story of high-spirited and independent heroine Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) who travels to the titular seaside resort where she encounters the broody and stubborn Sidney Parker (Theo James).
(Credit: PBS Masterpiece)
Their courtship would remind Austen fans of Pride and Prejudice‘s Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, and although a happy ending seemed so close, Season 1 ended with Sidney pursuing another engagement for the purpose of financially supporting his family.
While Austen’s stories usually conclude with a happy ending, Sanditon‘s first season finale was anything but happy. PBS Masterpiece wants to reassure fans that Charlotte’s fairy-tale ending is somewhere out there though. “While Sidney Parker will not return, rest assured that an abundance of romance and adventure lies ahead for the Sanditon heroine,” the network prefaced James’s statement. “We can’t wait for you to see what we have in store…”
Let us know what you think of the shocking departure in the comments below, and stay tuned for updates on Sanditon‘s upcoming seasons.
Sanditon, Seasons 2 & 3, TBA, PBS
Rose Williams
Anne Reid
Kris Marshall
Kate Ashfield
Jack Fox
Charlotte Spencer
Crystal Clarke
Lily Sacofsky
Turlough Convery
Alexandra Roach
Mark Stanley
Matthew Needham
Elizabeth Berrington
Kayleigh-Paige Rees
Adrian Rawlins
Sarah Belcher
Mollie Holder
Tom Weston-Jones
Frank Blake
Maxim Ays
Eloise Webb
Flora Mitchell
Ben Lloyd-Hughes
Alexander Vlahos
Rosie Graham
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Conversation51 Comments
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Its tragic! I'm not sure how it will recover without him. Theo James was perfect for the character and the reason so many want the show back is to see Charlotte and Sidney eventually find each other. Anything else will seem anti-climatic. I do find it sad that Theo James doesn't believe in fairy tale endings. It's very pessimistic.
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Shocked. The series needs Sidney Parker. I doubt I will continue watching.
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When I heard there was to be another 2 series I was over the moon, but if Theo's not going to be in it, I doubt if I will watch it. BRING HIM BACK
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Theo needs to reprise his role - the two of them(Rose and Theo) had Chemistry. Bring him back pls.
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It sounds like he's the one who doesn't want to come back. I have no doubt that the producers of the show probably wanted him to. The unfinished romance between Sidney and Charlotte was pretty much the only reason most people wanted the show to return.
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Why not recast the role??
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Theo has to come back otherwise it doesn't make sense for season 2 and 3. He is the main pillar of this movie. It was for him and Charlotte that we fought for the sequel. We wanted to see their happy end because love conquers everything. This is a JA romance and we wanted the ending it deserved. That's why we fought for Season 2. Without Theo, who played Sidney wonderfully, there is no sequel. I don't care about other threads. This one was the most important and it was about him in the fight for the next season.
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I'm devastated! Why do they always do this? Theo and Rose together was the whole reason I watched it! No one can replace him. They were perfect together. Just imagine if they replaced sexy, fine, Jaime from "Outlander" with some random guy. Outlander would have never been the same. I probably will not watch this. This is a real let down! I guess I'll be watching the first season over and over.
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Can there really be a Sanditon season 2 without a Sidney or Theo James? Pay him double if you must, but get him back!
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Well this is disappointing. Without the entire original cast and main characters it won't be the same at all. I was so excited until I read Sidney isn't coming back.
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So basically he just gave a huge finger to his fans? I was so excited until I heard this! Personally I think its a very arrogant response on his part but obviously he doesn't care what the people who make him his money think so why should we care when he isnt able to find work in the US? Just like the actor on Bridgerton...what's his name? Lol
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A pox on you Theo James for deserting your character and leaving your fans high and dry. After all this hard work to have the show reinstated too! Jane Austen again is not being respected. I hope Sidney survives in another actor at least. Do not kill him off or marry Charlotte off to Stringer. Why do actors think so much of themselves they can ignore what is plain to see, that the story needs a proper closure...at least make it a satisfying one not a misery!
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I liked Stringer much better than Sidney even though he didn't have James' dramatic looks or charm. For starters, his name wasn't Sidney. Secondly, he was the kind of man who would be faithful. I could tell Sidney was a dog very early on, sneaking around with Charlotte while keeping his options open with the blonde who treated Rose like dirt.
I bet 99.9% of the women watching Sanditon thought that Sidney would be the romantic hero who would tell his free-spending big brother to learn to live on what would have been left of his income - and marry Rose. Instead, he turned out to be the jerk he'd been in almost every episode.
Charlotte would have been smarter to encourage Stringer to stop feeling guilty over his father and go on to become the exceptional architect he was surely meant to be.
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I rather Sidney be recast and the story to go the way Austen would have probably intended it, than to do what they just did because the actor didn't want to come back. I'm honestly pretty miffed about this.
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Devastating news! Again. I was horrified to hear there was no second season planned, and now devastated that Sydney Parker (& Theo James) won’t return. The main thread of the first series laid out the twists & turns of Charlotte & Sydney’s relationship, ending up with them realizing that they bring out the best in & deeply love one another - for the right reasons - thus, should be together! It did seem that Sydney had lost his way by agreeing to marry the old flame for money - but there remained hope for more of their story to come. This is not just a bad fairy-tale ending, it’s equal to the tragedy of a life-time! Plus, falling in love with Sydney & Theo along with Charlotte was uplifting during the dreariest times of the Covid pandemic. I want this to be just another twist of the story. I do not believe that another actor will have just the same rugged strength & sex appeal to balance out Charlotte’s softness & lightness. Big mistake! Please work out or accept the contract details for Sydney/Theo to return at some point & continue the twists & turns to get them back together! Or this may just be a big disappointing tragedy.
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Oh no! I was looking forward to the next season. I'm sad. 🙁
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After hearing Sanditon wouldn't have a 2nd season, I was disappointed. It didn't seem to make any sense to make a production and have no proper end to it. Then I heard it had been 'saved' and a 2nd season would be made--and I was glad and looking forward to watching. Now, there's all these new characters to which the main storyline seems to be to watch giddy women flirt with various young men--sounds disappointing. And to top it off---SIDNEY won't be there to keep us guessing of his relationship with Charlotte?? My interest in watching has dropped exceedingly. I will see if any new love interest for Charlotte peaks my interest, but Sidney was the best & most interesting. And I agree--they had that romantic tension & chemistry that makes a love story worth watching.
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They need to bring him back at some stage , maybe Charlotte is widowed and they see each other and are still in love ,.
This was a beautiful love story, a man with a broken heart now put back together by this innocent beautiful young lady ,
We all need more of these two please🙏🙏
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Theo James was magnificent playing Sydney, and the chemistry between the two on screen made my heart sore to heights it has not done in years. I'm a big fan of Theo James, and really do not understand his reasoning for not returning . There really was no closure between Sydney and Charlotte and that is why I am so shattered. Jane Austen would never have ended the relationship that abrupt, and I believe Theo James is making a serious mistake, as do so many others. He may end up regretting his decision or the producers of the show may wish they had offered him more of a financial reward.
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I really don’t get this decision of Theo James. The story obviously isn’t over hence why fans wanted a second season so badly. Secondly, I don’t get why the show is making the decision NOT to replace him. The reason I wanted the show to go on so badly is to see the story end which it did not. It felt like a cliffhanger. This has most certainly diminished my excitement for the show. I’m certainly not really looking forward to it. Not sure if I’ll watch, it won’t be at the top of my list that’s for sure. At this point, maybe the show should just end.
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Well, I loved the show and although he will be missed of course the show won't fall apart w/o him. It's a great show and if hes replaced with another so much the better. It will be his loss but as I've said for some time now Its not personal, its business. The show will stand on its own merit but I do hope she ends up with another actor playing that part. I'm can't wait to see how it goes.
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Theo
obviously got a better offer... it's a huge shame as the character of
Sidney deserves better than this. I was very disappointed with Theo's
statement but to be fair, it's nearly 2 years since the first show was
aired, maybe he got fed up waiting. I'm also disappointed that the
showrunners kept the fans hoping for a happy ending for Sidney and
Charlotte for so long and that they didn't consider recasting the
character. The story won't have the same integrity now, effectively it
will be a new show. Might watch, might not. Oh well, we'll always have
that dance and that clifftop kiss (just stop after the kiss and it all
makes sense!)
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I think Theo James wanted a higher salary than PBS wanted to pay him. He was perfect for the part and I'm hoping PBS will reconsider and offer James something he can't refuse. Can't imagine anyone else taking his place. Won't be the same without him.
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I was so excited to hear the announcement of two more seasons, but I would almost rather it not happen than happen without Sydney. I mean, I am sure Charlotte's happy ending is out there and it's true to life that our first love is often not our last, but a big part of the desire to finish the series was to finish their love story in an Austen-like fashion. I have never been so elated and then so disappointed - oh well.
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I think Theo did a great job playing Sydney Parker don’t want to consider someone else playing the part I would be happy if Theo did appearance in series three to find Charlotte and have a happy ending for Sydney Parker and Charlotte I wanted him to have the happy ending please rethink the ending and make a lot of people happy
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I was devastated, to say the least. I just hope there's justice without him . Love the show
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Although I agree with you, part of hope's he doesn't even get another acting gig after leaving his fans high and dry just because of his selfishness!🤬🤬🤬
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You spoke my exact thoughts!!! I definitely look at him in a different light now. Even if he came back now, I don't know if I would like him as much as I once did.
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You spoke my exact thoughts!!! I think it's very selfish and concede of Theo to desert his fans like this!!!🤬🤬🤬
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I wish he would come back as well, however, I think it is truly selfish and conceded of him to just up and leave the show after we paid to watch the Seasons up till now. I truly think that is unfair!!!
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I doubt I will as well💔
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I doubt I will as well.💔
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You should refund our money after purchasing the seasons since Theo cowardly backed out!!! How could you do this to the fans???!!!🤬🤬🤬 This is so wrong!!!
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True!!! Jamie was the whole reason I ended up falling in love with Outlander! Without him, it could never be the same!!! Best series EVER!!!❤❤❤
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💯💯💯
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I totally agree! I'm not sure if I will even continue watching it. I feel so betrayed, I feel like they used Theo James to capture everyone's hearts and attention, then just left us stranded!🤬🤬🤬
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The trailer of Sanditon is such a lie!!! I feel like I've been betrayed by this series!!! Why even put them together in the main picture??? That's the main reason I started watching it, and continued watching!!!🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
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Sydney MUST come back to Charlotte!
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re cast the character!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Surely there must be another actor that can play the role. Why ruin Jane Austin's last novel by getting rid of the main character?
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What! No Mr. Pamuk (Downton Abbey) in the next seasons of Sandinton. Sigh.....
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Keep the character and just replace the actor. There are plenty of good looking dashing tall dark handsome actors out there that’ll take the part I’m sure. Replace Theo James with Joe Manganiello or Douglas Booth. That’ll get everyone’s heart beating again ;););)
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Keep the same storyline and just replace the actor. Some dashing good looking guy and we will get used to him.
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If Theo James isn’t coming back, please find someone else to fill that spot! What I liked best about his character was his edginess. He was no wimp and certainly no dandy. Whoever her love interest ends up being, please let it be a manly man.
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No point in watching the next two seasons. Bad decision.
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It's too bad Theo James shows such disregard for his fans. But, instead of crying over spilled milk, I suggest replacing him with the talented and lovely, Douglas Booth. For flashback scenes, reshoot them. I believe loyal and significant Austen fans can accept change and will make the adjustment and will redirect their devotion. The person who stands to lose the most is Theo James. Shame on him.
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Please don’t let Sydney marry for money it changes our whole way we look at him he is a strong person when he is with Charlotte not a weak man at the widows mercy please give him his happy life he deserves with Charlotte please get. Theo back he is the only mr Parker for Sanditon
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I think the theo should come back during season three play Sydney Parker who has never forgotten Charlotte he could have not married but travelled to make his fortune to save Sanditon and give us a happy ending for Charlotte and Sydney Please get Theo back even for half of season three please
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I think he is making a big mistake!
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I think we need Theo back I know he is a very busy man and has moved on already could you please at least come back in series three maybe after being away making your fortune instead of marrying for money you played such a strong role it’s depressing to see Sydney Parker left weak and depending on loveless marrage please rethink this
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He wasn't depending on a loveless marriage. He married a woman for her fortune to save his brother - who didn't have the sense God gave a goose.
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He doesn't deserve her. If he would drop her for money, he didn't really love her. His brother and his wife should have bailed themselves out. It wasn't Sidneys fault so why should he give up his love with Charlotte to pay them out of debt.
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