'His Dark Materials' fans get 'goosebumps' as series three trailer is unveiled

Lord Asriel (JAMES McAVOY) in His Dark Materials.
James McAvoy stars as Lord Asriel. (BBC)

His Dark Materials fans have said they are counting the minutes after a trailer for the eagerly-awaited third series was unveiled.

The fantasy drama about heroine Lyra (Dafne Keen) - which is based on author Philip Pullman's novels - is returning for a third run and it is expected to premiere later this year.

A new teaser shows James McAvoy's Lord Asriel building an army as he gears up for a battle against the Authority.

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"I am gathering the greatest from every world to help me wage war," he says.

His Dark Materials S3: Lyra Belaqua (Dafne Keen), Will Parry (Amir Wilson). (Bad Wolf/BBC/HBO)
Lyra Belaqua (Dafne Keen) and Will Parry (Amir Wilson) in the show. (Bad Wolf/BBC/HBO)

"They are but one arm of the beast," Asriel goes on.

"We cut off the head and the rest will crumble."

Viewers were thrilled to see the tense teaser for the show, which also stars Ruth Wilson, Anne-Marie Duff, Simone Kirby and Clarke Peters.

"This looks epic can't wait," one fan posted online, while another said that the clip gave them "goosebumps".

"Cannot wait for this next chapter," said another.

One fan said: "Shivers. Literal shivers."

"I read the books for the first time more than ten years ago, and yet I am still not ready for this," said someone else.

"I AM SCREAMING..." one viewer tweeted.

"Time to binge the first two seasons as preparation!"

One person said they could "hardly breathe" after watching the high-octane clip.

His Dark Materials S3: Mary Malone (Simon Kirby). (Bad Wolf/BBC/HBO)
Mary Malone (Simone Kirby) in the upcoming series. (Bad Wolf/BBC/HBO)

The trailer comes not long after two pictures from the series were released.

One showed Lyra and Will (Amir Wilson) lying on the ground next to each other, and one was of Mary Malone looking up at something in the sky.

The TV adaptation of His Dark Materials made its debut in 2019, and a second series was released the following year.

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The upcoming season will be the last instalment. It is based on The Amber Spyglass, which is the third novel in Pullman's hugely popular trilogy.

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