Starz continues to double down on European royalty with its latest series order – an eight-part drama about Catherine de Medici.
The cable network has ordered The Serpent Queen, based on Leonie Frieda’s book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France.
It comes from writer and executive producer Justin Haythe, who penned the screenplay for the Leonardo DiCaprio-Kate Winslet feature Revolutionary Road, and will be exec produced by The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence and The Matrix exec producer Erwin Stoff.
Stacie Passon, who has directed for Billions, American Gods and Dickinson, will direct multiple episodes including the premiere.
The series is produced by Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Catherine de Medici was an Italian noblewoman and queen consort of France, married to King Henry II and mother of kinds Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. She had huge influence in France during the 16th century.
The cable network has ordered The Serpent Queen, based on Leonie Frieda’s book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France.
It comes from writer and executive producer Justin Haythe, who penned the screenplay for the Leonardo DiCaprio-Kate Winslet feature Revolutionary Road, and will be exec produced by The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence and The Matrix exec producer Erwin Stoff.
Stacie Passon, who has directed for Billions, American Gods and Dickinson, will direct multiple episodes including the premiere.
The series is produced by Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Catherine de Medici was an Italian noblewoman and queen consort of France, married to King Henry II and mother of kinds Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. She had huge influence in France during the 16th century.
- 2/4/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Starz is developing an anthology series about “lesser known” but “extraordinary women of history” from Lionsgate Television and Colin Callender’s Playground, with the first installment being a show about Eleanor of Aquitaine.
The potential series about “one of the great heroines of the Middle Ages” will be written by Susie Conklin, who is adapting the project from historian Alison Weir’s biography “Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life” and its companion novel “Captive Queen.”
Per Starz, “Eleanor of Aquitaine defied the conventions of her time as a Queen of both England and France who wielded immense political influence over the kingdoms of men. She was a wife, mother and a fierce leader in an era when women were regarded as little more than chattels. Eleanor’s unwavering spirit saw her through many years of victories and defeats – a marriage bound by duty, a passionate love affair, family alliances and betrayals,...
The potential series about “one of the great heroines of the Middle Ages” will be written by Susie Conklin, who is adapting the project from historian Alison Weir’s biography “Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life” and its companion novel “Captive Queen.”
Per Starz, “Eleanor of Aquitaine defied the conventions of her time as a Queen of both England and France who wielded immense political influence over the kingdoms of men. She was a wife, mother and a fierce leader in an era when women were regarded as little more than chattels. Eleanor’s unwavering spirit saw her through many years of victories and defeats – a marriage bound by duty, a passionate love affair, family alliances and betrayals,...
- 11/17/2020
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Eleanor of Aquitaine Drama in Development at Starz as Part of ‘Extraordinary Women of History’ Slate
Starz is delving far into the past once again for its latest project.
Fresh off the success of “The Spanish Princess,” the network is developing another historical drama based around the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. The project is one of multiple series Starz is working on in conjunction with Lionsgate TV and Colin Callender’s Playground banner as part of what the network is calling its “extraordinary women of history” slate.
The Eleanor of Aquitaine show is based on Alison Weir’s biography “Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life” and its companion novel “Captive Queen.” Starz has acquired the rights to both, and intends to announce additional properties in its aforementioned slate in due time.
“This slate of series will focus on lesser known, but undeniably exceptional female historical figures while continuing the exploration of fierce characters in history,” said Christina Davis, president of programming for Starz. “Alison Weir’s...
Fresh off the success of “The Spanish Princess,” the network is developing another historical drama based around the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. The project is one of multiple series Starz is working on in conjunction with Lionsgate TV and Colin Callender’s Playground banner as part of what the network is calling its “extraordinary women of history” slate.
The Eleanor of Aquitaine show is based on Alison Weir’s biography “Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life” and its companion novel “Captive Queen.” Starz has acquired the rights to both, and intends to announce additional properties in its aforementioned slate in due time.
“This slate of series will focus on lesser known, but undeniably exceptional female historical figures while continuing the exploration of fierce characters in history,” said Christina Davis, president of programming for Starz. “Alison Weir’s...
- 11/17/2020
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Starz is developing a slate of series inspired by “extraordinary women of history” and has set a drama about Eleanor of Aquitaine from A Discovery Of Witches writer Susie Conklin and Playground Entertainment as the first in the strand.
The network has optioned the rights to historian Alison Weir’s biography Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life and its companion novel Captive Queen for the first series.
Conklin, who has also worked on BBC drama Cranford, will adapt and serve as an exec producer, alongside Scott Huff and David Stern for Playground Entertainment, Colin Callender’s company behind Starz’ The Spanish Princess.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was previously played by Katharine Hepburn in 1968 feature The Lion in Winter.
It is the latest in a long line of female focused-period dramas for the network, which has found success with the likes of Outlander, The White Queen and The White Princess.
Eleanor of Aquitaine...
The network has optioned the rights to historian Alison Weir’s biography Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life and its companion novel Captive Queen for the first series.
Conklin, who has also worked on BBC drama Cranford, will adapt and serve as an exec producer, alongside Scott Huff and David Stern for Playground Entertainment, Colin Callender’s company behind Starz’ The Spanish Princess.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was previously played by Katharine Hepburn in 1968 feature The Lion in Winter.
It is the latest in a long line of female focused-period dramas for the network, which has found success with the likes of Outlander, The White Queen and The White Princess.
Eleanor of Aquitaine...
- 11/17/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Starz is developing a slate of shows about extraordinary women in history, with Eleanor of Aquitaine as the first subject.
The premium cable outlet has acquired rights to two books about the 12th century monarch by best-selling author Alison Weir: the nonfiction Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life and its companion novel, Captive Queen.
Susie Conklin (A Discovery of Witches, Cranford) will adapt the books and executive produce. Starz parent Lionsgate TV and Playground, headed by former HBO Films chief Colin Callender, are producing the umbrella series. Scott Huff and David Stern will oversee development for Playground and also serve as exec producers....
The premium cable outlet has acquired rights to two books about the 12th century monarch by best-selling author Alison Weir: the nonfiction Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life and its companion novel, Captive Queen.
Susie Conklin (A Discovery of Witches, Cranford) will adapt the books and executive produce. Starz parent Lionsgate TV and Playground, headed by former HBO Films chief Colin Callender, are producing the umbrella series. Scott Huff and David Stern will oversee development for Playground and also serve as exec producers....
- 11/17/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Starz is developing a slate of shows about extraordinary women in history, with Eleanor of Aquitaine as the first subject.
The premium cable outlet has acquired rights to two books about the 12th century monarch by best-selling author Alison Weir: the nonfiction Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life and its companion novel, Captive Queen.
Susie Conklin (A Discovery of Witches, Cranford) will adapt the books and executive produce. Starz parent Lionsgate TV and Playground, headed by former HBO Films chief Colin Callender, are producing the umbrella series. Scott Huff and David Stern will oversee development for Playground and also serve as exec producers....
The premium cable outlet has acquired rights to two books about the 12th century monarch by best-selling author Alison Weir: the nonfiction Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life and its companion novel, Captive Queen.
Susie Conklin (A Discovery of Witches, Cranford) will adapt the books and executive produce. Starz parent Lionsgate TV and Playground, headed by former HBO Films chief Colin Callender, are producing the umbrella series. Scott Huff and David Stern will oversee development for Playground and also serve as exec producers....
- 11/17/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘A Discovery Of Witches’: ‘Victoria’ Star Tom Hughes Joins Cast Of Supernatural Drama For Season Two
Victoria star Tom Hughes is joining the cast of Sky and AMC Networks drama A Discovery of Witches.
Hughes will star as Kit Marlowe, an English playwright, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era, for the show’s second season. Hughes, who also starred in BBC Cold War drama The Game, is the first name revealed to join the cast after the British pay-broadcaster made a bumper two-season order for the supernatural series.
Downton Abbey and The Good Wife star Matthew Goode stars as vampire Matthew Clairmont in the Bad Wolf-produced show, while Hacksaw Ridge‘s Teresa Palmer plays heroine Diana Bishop in the series.
A Discovery Of Witches is the first installment of Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy, which has sold more than 3.5M copies worldwide. Originally published in 2011, Discovery is the story of Diana, a young scholar at Oxford who is a descendant of the Salem witches. When she accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript,...
Hughes will star as Kit Marlowe, an English playwright, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era, for the show’s second season. Hughes, who also starred in BBC Cold War drama The Game, is the first name revealed to join the cast after the British pay-broadcaster made a bumper two-season order for the supernatural series.
Downton Abbey and The Good Wife star Matthew Goode stars as vampire Matthew Clairmont in the Bad Wolf-produced show, while Hacksaw Ridge‘s Teresa Palmer plays heroine Diana Bishop in the series.
A Discovery Of Witches is the first installment of Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy, which has sold more than 3.5M copies worldwide. Originally published in 2011, Discovery is the story of Diana, a young scholar at Oxford who is a descendant of the Salem witches. When she accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript,...
- 8/2/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
AMC will introduce viewers to a magical new world when A Discovery of Witches comes to the Sundance Now and Shudder streaming services this January, and ahead of the first season's premiere, they've already acquired the second and third seasons of the Sky One UK series:
Press Release: New York, NY – November 5, 2018 – On heels of Sky UK’s greenlight announcement for second and third seasons of the captivating series “A Discovery of Witches,” Sundance Now, AMC Networks’ direct-to-consumer Svod service curated with high-quality dramas and crime thrillers, and Shudder, the leading premium streaming service for thriller, suspense and horror, has confirmed the acquisition of both seasons. The first season is set to premiere on both the services in U.S. and Canada on January 17, 2019.
Adapted from Deborah Harkness’s critically-acclaimed and bestselling All Souls trilogy, the Sky original production launched in September in the U.K. and was produced by Bad Wolf,...
Press Release: New York, NY – November 5, 2018 – On heels of Sky UK’s greenlight announcement for second and third seasons of the captivating series “A Discovery of Witches,” Sundance Now, AMC Networks’ direct-to-consumer Svod service curated with high-quality dramas and crime thrillers, and Shudder, the leading premium streaming service for thriller, suspense and horror, has confirmed the acquisition of both seasons. The first season is set to premiere on both the services in U.S. and Canada on January 17, 2019.
Adapted from Deborah Harkness’s critically-acclaimed and bestselling All Souls trilogy, the Sky original production launched in September in the U.K. and was produced by Bad Wolf,...
- 11/6/2018
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The first season of A Discovery of Witches doesn’t launch on Sundance Now and Shudder until January, but the AMC Networks streaming services also have acquired will the upcoming second and third seasons of Sky’s UK drama.
A Discovery of Witches is a modern-day love story set in a world where witches, vampires and demons secretly live and work alongside humans, hidden in plain sight. Season 1 follows Diana (Teresa Palmer), a young scholar at Oxford who is a descendant of the Salem witches. When she accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript, she is compelled to embrace the magic in her blood and enters a forbidden romance with charming 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew (Matthew Goode).
In the second season Matthew and Diana are hiding in time in the fascinating and treacherous world of Elizabethan London , where they must find a powerful witch teacher to help Diana control her magic and search...
A Discovery of Witches is a modern-day love story set in a world where witches, vampires and demons secretly live and work alongside humans, hidden in plain sight. Season 1 follows Diana (Teresa Palmer), a young scholar at Oxford who is a descendant of the Salem witches. When she accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript, she is compelled to embrace the magic in her blood and enters a forbidden romance with charming 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew (Matthew Goode).
In the second season Matthew and Diana are hiding in time in the fascinating and treacherous world of Elizabethan London , where they must find a powerful witch teacher to help Diana control her magic and search...
- 11/5/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Sky is doubling down on A Discovery of Witches – hanging the supernatural drama a bumper two season order.
The British pay-tv giant has ordered seasons two and three of the Bad Wolf-produced series after the first season become the biggest drama on Sky One this year.
Downton Abbey and The Good Wife star Goode stars as vampire Matthew Clairmont, while Hacksaw Ridge‘s Teresa Palmer plays heroine Diana Bishop in the series.
A Discovery Of Witches is the first installment of Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy, which has sold more than 3.5M copies worldwide. Originally published in 2011, Discovery is the story of Diana, a young scholar at Oxford who is a descendant of the Salem witches. When she accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript, she is compelled to embrace the magic in her blood and enters a forbidden romance with charming 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew. The second All Souls novel, Shadow Of Night,...
The British pay-tv giant has ordered seasons two and three of the Bad Wolf-produced series after the first season become the biggest drama on Sky One this year.
Downton Abbey and The Good Wife star Goode stars as vampire Matthew Clairmont, while Hacksaw Ridge‘s Teresa Palmer plays heroine Diana Bishop in the series.
A Discovery Of Witches is the first installment of Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy, which has sold more than 3.5M copies worldwide. Originally published in 2011, Discovery is the story of Diana, a young scholar at Oxford who is a descendant of the Salem witches. When she accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript, she is compelled to embrace the magic in her blood and enters a forbidden romance with charming 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew. The second All Souls novel, Shadow Of Night,...
- 11/2/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Luke Pasqualino's d'Artagnan was the star of The Musketeers' first episode but hasn't really taken focus since, so it's refreshing to see the plucky young hero return very much to the forefront for 'The Challenge' - the adventure serial's latest outing.
Romance might finally be blossoming with Tamla Kari's comely Constance, but elsewhere d'Artagnan's fortunes are less favourable. He's yet to become a true Musketeer and a new nemesis also lurks on the horizon, the fearsome brute Labarge - with guest star Vinnie Jones taking on the sort of period villain role he's not attempted since the music video for Westlife's 'Bop Bop Baby'.
Jones might be a one-trick pony, but it's a trick he's undeniably good at performing and it's enormous fun seeing his cockney hardman routine relocated to 17th Century Paris.
Labarge - a man with "no more humanity than a jackal" - is swiftly...
Romance might finally be blossoming with Tamla Kari's comely Constance, but elsewhere d'Artagnan's fortunes are less favourable. He's yet to become a true Musketeer and a new nemesis also lurks on the horizon, the fearsome brute Labarge - with guest star Vinnie Jones taking on the sort of period villain role he's not attempted since the music video for Westlife's 'Bop Bop Baby'.
Jones might be a one-trick pony, but it's a trick he's undeniably good at performing and it's enormous fun seeing his cockney hardman routine relocated to 17th Century Paris.
Labarge - a man with "no more humanity than a jackal" - is swiftly...
- 3/16/2014
- Digital Spy
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