It’s been a while since we watched Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont finally dismantle the Congregation’s cruel covenant, but the chatter surrounding A Discovery of Witches season 4 just won't stay quiet. If you’re a fan of the All Souls Trilogy, you know the feeling. That itch. The sense that while the "main" story wrapped up in season 3, the world Deborah Harkness built is way too big to just disappear into the ether.
Honestly, the TV industry is weird right now. We see shows get revived ten years later, and we see "complete" series get spin-offs before the finale even airs. With this show, the situation is a bit more nuanced.
Most people assume that because the three books—A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life—were covered, the show is dead. Done. Dusted. But that’s actually not the full picture. There is a fourth book, Time’s Convert, and Harkness has been very vocal about more installments coming to the All Souls universe. So, when we talk about a potential A Discovery of Witches season 4, we’re really talking about whether Sky and AMC+ have the appetite to move beyond the central trilogy and into the "Gallowglass and Marcus" era.
The Reality of Season 4 and the Marcus Problem
Let’s be real for a second. The third season ended on a high note. We got the birth of the twins, the blood rage cure was moving forward, and Peter Knox finally got what was coming to him. It felt like a period at the end of a long, magical sentence.
But Time’s Convert exists.
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This novel shifts the focus. It’s not just "The Diana and Matthew Show" anymore. It dives deep into Marcus Whitmore’s past—specifically his time during the American Revolution—and his present-day struggle to turn Phoebe Taylor into a vampire. If a fourth season were to happen, it would likely look more like a soft reboot or a focused spin-off.
The challenge? Casting and scheduling. Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode are massive stars now. Getting them back for a full season as leads is a logistical nightmare and, frankly, expensive. However, the fans aren't necessarily demanding 10 more episodes of Diana researching in a library. They want to see what happens to the characters they grew to love over three years.
Why the "Spin-off" Label is Probably More Accurate
In the world of streaming, "Season 4" is a heavy brand. It implies a continuation of the exact same arc. But if the writers take on the story of Marcus and Phoebe, it changes the DNA of the show.
- Marcus’s Origin: We’d see the 1700s, but not the glamorous Elizabethan London we saw in Season 2. We’re talking muddy, revolutionary America.
- Phoebe’s Transition: The process of becoming a vampire in this universe is clinical and dangerous. Seeing a human we like go through that would be a fresh perspective.
- The Twins: Rebecca and Philip are "Bright Born." They are the first of their kind. You can’t tell me a studio isn't looking at those kids as the future of a franchise.
What Most People Get Wrong About the All Souls TV Rights
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around Reddit and Twitter (or X, whatever we're calling it today) about who owns what. Bad Luck Productions and Sky handled the initial run. While the show found a huge second life on AMC+ and Netflix, the decision-making power still largely rests with the UK-based production teams.
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I’ve seen people claim season 4 was "cancelled." That’s factually incorrect. You can't cancel something that was never officially ordered. The show was always billed as a trilogy. It completed its intended run. The conversation now is about "expansion," which is a very different beast in the boardroom.
Harkness has confirmed she is working on a fifth book. This one is supposedly centered on Gallowglass. If you’ve spent any time in the fandom, you know Gallowglass is the ultimate "fan favorite." Leaving his story unresolved—wandering off into the sunset with his unrequited love for Diana—feels like a missed opportunity for the network.
The Production Hurdles No One Talks About
Making a show like this is a massive undertaking. The period costumes alone for Season 2 probably cost more than some indie movies. When you move into a fourth season, you have to justify that budget without the "guaranteed" hook of the main trilogy’s conclusion.
Also, look at the filming locations. They shot in Wales, Italy, and France. To bring that back, you need the same level of craftsmanship. If they can’t do it right, they probably won't do it at all. The creators have been very protective of the visual "prestige" of the series. They don't want it to turn into a low-budget CW-style supernatural drama.
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The Netflix Factor
Here is the kicker. Since A Discovery of Witches hit Netflix in certain territories, the viewership numbers have spiked. We’ve seen this happen before. Lucifer was saved by fans. Manifest was saved by fans. If the data shows that millions of people are bingeing the first three seasons, the "Season 4" conversation moves from "maybe" to "how fast can we write it?"
Breaking Down the Potential Plot of a Return
If they do go back to the well, here is what we are actually looking at based on the existing literature and the breadcrumbs left in the Season 3 finale.
- The Evolution of the Covenant: The old world is dead, but a new one hasn't been built yet. Demons, witches, and vampires are now "allowed" to intermingle, but that doesn't mean they want to. The political fallout would be a goldmine for drama.
- The Weaver Legacy: Diana is a Weaver. She’s essentially a goddess among witches now. Seeing her mentor others or struggle with the sheer scale of her power would be a logical next step.
- The Blood Rage Cure: Just because they found a genetic link doesn't mean every vampire is happy about it. There are those who see blood rage as a gift or a weapon.
Final Thoughts on the Future of the Franchise
Is A Discovery of Witches season 4 happening this year? No. Is the universe done? Highly unlikely. The trend in television right now is "limited series" and "sequel series." Don't be surprised if we see an announcement for a show titled The Serpent's Mirror or Time's Convert rather than a traditional fourth season.
The actors have stayed close. The author is still writing. The fans are still watching. In the world of entertainment, that’s usually a recipe for more content eventually.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re desperate for more, don't just wait for a trailer that might not come for years.
- Read "Time’s Convert": It’s the closest thing you’ll get to a season 4 script right now. It bridges the gap perfectly and explains why Marcus is the way he is.
- Watch the Behind-the-Scenes Docs: Most streaming platforms have the "making of" specials. They reveal a lot about the lore that didn't quite make it into the final edit.
- Follow Deborah Harkness on Social Media: She is remarkably transparent with her fans. If there’s a sniff of a new production, she’s usually the first to hint at it.
Stop looking for a release date that hasn't been set yet and start looking into the expanded lore. The story of the de Clermonts is a lot bigger than just one trilogy.