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Supply Chains

Two years after being quietly shelved, Sanditon, the period drama that introduced audiences to Theo James’s Regency-era charm, is making waves again on PVOD. Released in 2019 and based on Jane Austen’s final, unfinished novel, Sanditon transports viewers to the early 1800s, where a young woman named Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) leaves her quiet rural home for a budding seaside town in search of reinvention. What ensues is a turbulent mix of scandals, heartbreak, and a romantic foil in Sidney Parker, played by James.

Created by Emmy and BAFTA award-winning screenwriter Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice), Sanditon brims with the same romantic tension and lavish costumes that made Bridgerton such a global hit. Despite its undeniable quality, Sanditon never reached Bridgerton-level recognition. Where Bridgerton had Netflix’s global marketing muscle behind it, Sanditon premiered modestly on ITV in the UK and later found a home on PBS in the U.S. The lack of fanfare meant that many casual Austen fans simply missed it.

However, the series quietly cultivated a devoted audience, the kind of fans who write letters, and started the #SaveSanditon movement when executives toyed with the idea of canceling the project after the first season. That persistence paid off. Against the odds, Sanditon managed to run for three full seasons before finally bowing out in 2023. The show received an impressive 85% average score from audiences and an 82% score from critics, and with three bingeable seasons now available to rent or buy, the show has all it takes to become the perfect comfort watch, introducing it to new audiences who may be craving another hit of Regency romance while Bridgerton fans await the next chapter of the ton. The synopsis reads:

“Sanditon tells the story of Charlotte Heywood, a spirited and somewhat impulsive young woman who travels from her rural English home to the up-and-coming seaside resort town of Sanditon to reinvent herself. The show is a lavish Regency era drama with gorgeous period detail and is packed with considerable romance and intrigue.”

What Has Theo James Been Up To in Recent Times?

Since leaving Sanditon after its first season, James has earned praise for his performance in The White Lotus Season 2, where he played the morally ambiguous character Cameron Sullivan. In 2024, he played the lead role as Edward “Eddie” Horniman, the 13th Duke of Halstead and a former Army captain, in Netflix’s The Gentlemen. His most recent high-profile appearance has been in a dual role as lead in The Monkey, a comedy horror film written and directed by Osgood Perkins. The film is based on Stephen King‘s 1980 short story about twin brothers whose lives are turned upside down by a cursed toy monkey.

Sanditon is also available to stream on PBS Masterpiece Channel on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S.