MARTIN COMPSTON & IAIN GLENN ARE UP AGAINST A SCARY SEA FOG IN PRIME VIDEO'S SUPER SPOOKY THE RIG THRILLER SERIES TRAILER! OUTRAGEOUS TV DRAMA ABOUT FAMOUS 1930'S MITFORD SISTERS

  OUTRAGEOUS TV DRAMA  

ABOUT THE MITFORD SISTERS

Although their life has been already adapted a couple of times by BBC, famous Mitford sisters will get a new drama at UKTV's channel Drama. The six part series OUTRAGEOUS, their first ever, will depict the British socialite sisters, whose antics in the 1930s made their family one of the most well known in the UK. Several infamously supported fascism and the Nazis, though two became staunch opponents of the ideology. Two became well known authors. It will be a story of family betrayals, public scandal, political extremism, personal heartache and even imprisonment. 

  THE RIG TRAILER  

FOR NEW PRIME VIDEO SERIES

The Rig will shake January 6th!

Prime Video has released a trailer for their new thriller series THE RIG which will stream from January 6th with Martin Compston, Iain Glenn, Emily Hampshire, Owen Teale, Mark Bonnar and Emun Elliott leading the cast of the six part limited series. 

 

  THE STORY OF THE RIG
sees the crew of the Kinloch Bravo oil rig stationed off the Scottish coast in the dangerous waters of the North Sea. When they are due to be collected and  return to the mainland, a mysterious and all-enveloping fog rolls through. The rig is hit by massive tremors, and they find themselves cut off from all communication with the shore and the outside world. As the crew endeavour to discover what’s driving this unknown force, a major accident forces them to ask questions about who they can really trust. Bonds are broken, allegiances formed and generational fault lines are exposed. The crew of the Bravo will be driven to the limits of both their loyalties and their endurance leading to a confrontation with forces beyond their imagination.

IAIN DE CAESTECKER TO LEAD NEW ARTHURIAN EPIC TV SERIES THE WINTER KING FOR ITVX! CHOCOLATE GETTING A NEW FRENCH TV SERIES VERSION!

  IAIN DE CAESTECKER   

TO LEAD THE WINTER KING EPIC TV SERIES AS KING ARTHUR

ITV's new streamer ITVX has announced cast for new epic TV series THE WINTER KING based on Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles! It will follow Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast to legendary warrior and leader. It is set in the 5th century long before Britain was united. In a land of

Iain de Caestecker is the new Arthur

warring factions and tribes when the world was brutal and lives were often fleeting. Featuring an exciting range of established names and new talent the cast includes: Iain De Caestecker stars as a young Arthur, who begins as an exiled bastard before becoming the greatest hope for Britain. Stuart Campbell is Derfel who transforms from left-for-dead orphan to the truest of all warlords. Ellie James is Nimue a priestess saved by Merlin because she can see the gods - he gives her power, wisdom and learning. Eddie Marsan is Uther, High King of all Dumnonia, old and battle tested. He commands incredible authority, over almost all, bar Merlin. Nathaniel Martello-White is Merlin, a politician, powerful, enlightened, and absolute. Fearless in the face of a King’s wrath he follows his connection

Stuart Campbell and Ellie James will star in the new series

to his Gods in all things. Daniel Ings is Owain one of Arthur’s closest childhood friends and like a son to High King Uther. Valene Kane is Morgan, Arthur’s half-sister and another bastard child of King Uther. She is a

Simon Merrells and Daniel Ings will also star in the series

sharp-tongued and independent minded pagan and student of Merlin. Simon Merrells is Gundleus, King of rival kingdom Siluria. Imposing and savage, Gundleus is prepared to slaughter whoever he needs to secure power.

   CHOCOLAT BECOMING  

A NEW FRENCH TV SERIES

It will be a French language series

After the 2000 movie adaptation, Joanne Harris's international bestseller CHOCOLAT will get a French TV series version as well from Miramax TV and Atlantique productions. The series, that will use both the books from Joanne's series and the film as its source material, will follow a woman and her daughter who settle down in a small town in modern-day France and disrupt the community’s social balance when they open a chocolate shop. Bill Block and Pierre-Antoine Capton will executive produce. And in other French series news, BBC Two will air Marie Antoinette during the holidays, while Foxtel is already streaming it down in Australia, with PBS releasing it in USA next March. PBS has also renewed Miss Scarlet and the Duke for fourth season today and it is already shooting over in Serbia!

STUDIOCANAL PREPARING CORTO MALTESE TV SERIES WITH FRANK MILLER AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CREATOR

  CORTO MALTESE SERIES 

IN WORKS FROM STUDIOCANAL AND FRANK MILLER

I first reported on this project back in 2021

Out favourite Studiocanal is prepping a six episode mini series on famous graphic novel hero CORTO MALTESE and they have hired Frank Miller as creator, writer and executive producer. Started back in the 60s by Hugo Pratt, it followed Maltese, a daring sea captain whose adventures took place in the early part of the 20th century. 

 

  The lavishly drawn adventure tale melded fantasy with reality following Corto Maltese, an enigmatic and laconic sea captain who lives in the first three decades of the 20th century. Born in Valletta on the island of Malta, the son of a sailor from Cornwall, and a gypsy from Seville, in his adventures full of real world references, he has often crossed with real historical characters like Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Hermann Hesse, the American outlaw Butch Cassidy, the German World War I flying ace Red Baron, and many others.

IT'S A SPY GAME BETWEEN CHARLIE COX AND OLGA KURYLENKO IN NEW NETFLIX SPY THRILLER MINI SERIES TREASON WITH CIARAN HINDS

   TREASON TV SERIES  

STARRING CHARLIE COX

I'm not really sure how festive a spy series is but that is exactly what you are getting under your Christmas tree this year from Netflix: new spy thriller mini

The series arrives a day after Christmas

series TREASON will be available for streaming from December 26th! With Charlie Cox leading the series as MI6 agent character Adam Lawrence, the cast also includes our dear Olga Kurylenko, Ciaran Hinds, Adam James, Oona Chaplin and Joe Macaulay and Brian Law!

 

  THE STORY OF TREASON

centers around Adam Lawrence, trained and groomed by MI6, whose career seems set. But when the past catches up with him in the form of Kara, a Russian spy with whom he shares a complicated past, he is forced to question everything and everyone in his life. A triangular relationship forms between Kara, Adam, and his wife, Maddy; three people who are trying to expose each other’s secrets, navigate political and diplomatic relationships, whilst hanging onto their personal lives, and those they love most. Check out the trailer below.

 

GO ON AN ADVENTURE THROUGH ANCIENT GREECE WITH A BRAVE MOUSE IN ANIMATED HISTORICAL MOVIE ARGONUTS

 ARGONUTS ANIMATED FILM 

HAS SOLD AROUND THE WORLD

Something animated for you today: sold to markets around Europe, Asia, South America and Australia and USA, is TAT Productions' animated

Argonuts are out January in France

historical adventure ARGONUTS which boasts a beautiful animation worthy of a studio movie, a compelling original story with endearing characters and an Ancient Greek backdrop that will appeal to both children and their parents!

  Out first in France January 25th, it is set in peaceful Yolcos, a beautiful and prosperous port city of ancient Greece, where the population is suddenly threatened by the wrath of Poseidon. A young adventurous mouse and the cat who adopted her will then unwittingly help old Jason and his Argonauts in their quest to save the city. But much more than a helping hand, the operation will eventually bring them to face the most dangerous mythical creatures of mythology and overcome all the dangers for them.

SEE THE STORY OF BROTHERHOOD, LOVE AND COMMUNICATION IN ALBANIA'S GUT WRENCHING OSCAR ENTRY A CUP OF COFFEE AND NEW SHOES ON

CUP OF COFFEE, NEW SHOES ON

WILL MAKE YOU FEEL THANKFUL

Since Hollywood is still celebrating Thanksgiving, I thought I could show you something from Europe that will really make you count your blessings and feel

The movie had world premiere in Tallinn

thankful for all the little things you are probably taking for granted. Albanian drama A CUP OF COFFEE AND NEW SHOES ON is currently competing over at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

 

This year's Albanian Oscar entry is a deeply emotional drama, set in the capital of Albania - Tirana. Agim and Gëzim, identical and inseparable twins in their thirties, have a strong bond of brotherly love. They are both deaf, but this doesn’t get in the way of their everyday life. One day they receive the diagnosis that they will also lose their sight, and they are confronted with their changing

It is this year's Oscar Entry from Albania

relationship to the world.

 

Two leads, Portuguese twins Edgar and Rafael Morais, who are not really deaf, spent six months learning Albanian sign language. They've got the roles after an extensive international audition. The film was inspired by the story of two real Belgian twin brothers, both 45-year-old shoemakers from the town of Putte, who back in 2013 put on a new pair of shoes and had a cup of coffee with their relatives before saying goodbye to them and leaving to get euthanised after finding that they will become blind too after already being deaf. The movie is a co-production between Albania, Greece and Portugal. 

SEE LOUIS HOFMANN IN WW2 SET MOVIE DRAMA THE FORGER BASED ON AN INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY!

  THE FORGER WW2 MOVIE 

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

Out currently in German speaking countries and also in Argentina is German period set thriller THE FORGER starring lovely Louis Hofmann who caught

The Forger will soon arrive to US cinemas too

our eye in Life After Life. Here he is a 21-year-old Cioma Schönhaus who won't let anyone take away his zest for life, especially not the Nazis. He wants to discover life, but has the misfortune of living as a Jewish person in Berlin in the 1940s. Since the best hiding spots are in plain sight, Cioma decides to go out into the light to escape deportation. Using the identity of a marine officer he created for himself, he throws himself into the city's nightlife and even finds a fragile hope for love during the darkest moments of the war. Throughout the day he forges IDs with just a brush, some ink and a steady hand - and saves the lives of many others. His talent puts him in more and more danger, though, and at some point Cioma's only hope to survive is a last forged ID - with his own name on it. Kino Lorber will soon release it in USA as well.

WILDLY LAVISH AND GLITZY TRAILER FOR SISI EPIC TV SERIES SEASON 2 ABOUT THE FAMOUS AUSTRIAN 19TH CENTURY EMPRESS! CHECK OUT NEW CHARACTER PHOTOS!

  SISI EPIC TV SERIES  

SEASON TWO TRAILER IS HERE!

About a week ago I gave you the first photos for the second season of Germany's ultra successful historical saga SISI which is returning to the small screens at the end of the year - it will be available on RTL+ streamer from

Sisi returns this December to RTL

December 16th and will then launch on mother channel RTL on December 27th and 28th as the part of Christmas progra- mming - and today I have the trailer for the second season and it is all kinds of stunning confirming that it really is visually the glitziest show we have seen in years from the set and costumes to the mesmerising cinematography. The series which also aired on ORF in Austria, Canal Plus, Epic Drama Channels, many national broadcasters around the world and on Disney in USA, will be taking us back to the imperial court in Vienna with Dominique Devenport as Empress Elisabeth and Jannik Schumann as emperor Franz Joseph.

  THE BIRTH OF THE SON

of Sisi and Franz should perfect the marital bliss, but instead the young heir to the throne is a cause for serious power struggles in Europe. This also begins a phase of private challenges for Sisi and Franz. Otto von Bismarck threatens war, Sisi uses her diplomatic instincts, but she cannot find happiness in their relationship. She feels like a bird in a golden cage. Then she has to travel to Hungary for political reasons and there she encounters Count Gyula Andrássy (Giovanni Funiati), who fascinates herimmensely. Standing between the rebel leader and her husband Franz, she has to make a difficult decision.

THE SECOND SEASON CAST

will also include Murathan Muslu as the Hungarian rebel leader Ödön Körtek, Romy Schroeder as Marie, the daughter of Sisi's maid Fanny, who was hanged for treason in Season one, Amanda Da Gloria as Countess Emanuelle Andrássy, Count Andrássy's sister, and Bernd Hölscher as Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor from 1871! Boris Aljinovic stars as French emperor Napoleon III. Sisi will also have a lavish coronation in Hungary and Franz will now maybe sport a longer hairdo to the delight of ladies. Rival series The Empress, which arrived to Netflix this Autumn, broke into most of top ten charts around the world and will be also getting a second season. Check out the breathtaking trailer for the Sisi second season below and tell us what you think:

 

NEW EPIC MOVIE ON A SPANISH GIRL WHO MARRIED A MAHARAJAH AND BECAME THE PRINCESS OF KAPURTHALA

 THE PRINCESS OF KAPURTHALA 

EPIC MOVIE IN PRODUCTION!

As Variety reports, director and scriptwriter Michael Radford is preparing THE PRINCESS OF KAPURTHALA (La Princesa De Kapurthala) epic movie together with Manuel Estudillo. Based on the books

The real life Anita Delgado

“The Princess of Kapurthala” and “The Dream of the Maharani” by Elisa Vaszquez de Gey,  it will be a trilogy following the true life story of Spanish girl Anita Delgado, who became the Maharani Prem Kaur of Kapurthala in India at the age of 16. Not just a pretty face that the Maharajah falls in love with, Anita is also a strong and determined woman who learns everything needed to become a princess, and later uses these charms to leave her mark on the society of that time! Besides the love story, the film will trace the Princess’s popularity. She appeared on newspaper and magazine covers and was deeply involved with social causes. She helped soldiers fighting in World War I, travelled to the war front in France and built hospitals there. She also tried to stop the marriages of underage Indian girls and created a fund to support widows, among others. The production should start early next year both in Spain and in India.

SEE 1ST PHOTOS FROM STOCKHOLM BLOODBATH 16TH CENTURY MOVIE WITH CLAES BANG, JAKOB OFTEBRO, SOPHIE COOKSON, EMILY BEECHAM! SEE 1ST CLIPS FROM TOM JONES AND OTHER PBS HISTORICAL 2023 SHOWS

  STOCKHOLM BLOODBATH  

1ST VIAPLAY MOVIE PHOTOS 

Earlier this year your trusted spy has informed you that Scandinavian streamer Viaplay is preparing historical movie STOCKHOLM BLOODBATH and now we have the first stills along with the full cast revealed for Mikael Hafstrom directed epic movie. It will be Viaplay's second English language film after Lasse Hallstrom's Hilma which is already available on the streamer which recently opened for UK viewers as well. 

 

  SET IN 1520 THE FILM

explores a dark chapter in Sweden’s history, which saw the infamous massacre of nearly 100 nobles and civilians in the Swedish capital. The film follows Anne (Sophie Cookson) and her foster sister Freja (Alba August) as they seek revenge on the men who murdered their family at Anne’s wedding. Their quest leads them to Stockholm, where they are drawn into a ruthless political struggle between Sweden and Denmark when a group of Swedish aristocrats conspire to overthrow the Danish king Christian II, known by the Swedes as Christian the Tyrant. When the Danish king learns of the nobles' plans, he heads to Stockholm to put an end to the rebellion of the Swedish rebels, under the leadership of the regent Sten Sture. The stuggle culminates in a mass execution of almost 100 Swedes, presided over by King Christian II of Denmark (Claes Bang), known as the Stockholm Bloodbath.

WHO IS TAKING THE BATH?

Beside Sophie Cookson who leads the cast as Anne Eriksson, and  Claes Bang portraying King Kristian II, the international cast also includes Emily Beecham as Kristina Gyllenstierna,  Alba August as Freja Eriksson, Adam Pålsson as Sten Sture, Nordic superstar Jakob Oftebro as Gustaf Trolle, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Didrick Slagheck, Matias Varela as Kardinal Francisco De La Roca, Wilf Scolding as Johan Natt, Dag Ulrich Thomsen as Hemming Gadh, Thomas Chaanhing as Sylvestre and  Kate Ashfield as Birgitta!

  MASTERPIECE 2023 REEL 

WITH 1ST TOM JONES CLIP

Tom Jones will air on PBS and on ITV

Speaking of things historical, a delightful treat for you today comes from PBS Masterpiece who has sent us their new video reel previewing all the new series that will premiere during winter and spring 2023. The reel includes exclusive clips from the new seasons of All Creatures Great and Small which already aired in UK but arrives to PBS with season 3 on January 8th, Sanditon which arrives with season 3 next year, Miss Scarlet and The Duke which returns with season 3 November 24th, plus the premiere of  brand new series Tom Jones, a picaresque story of the title character’s complicated journey to find real love, based on the 1749 classic novel with Solly McLeod as the hero Tom, alongside Sophie Wilde as the heroine Sophia Western!

VIKINGS: VALHALLA SECOND SEASON AIR DATE ANNOUNCED WITH NEW PHOTOS WITH LEO SUTER, SAM CORLETT AND BRADLEY JAMES WHO JOINS THE CAST!

   VIKINGS: VALHALLA   

SECOND SEASON AIR DATE AND FIRST PHOTOS ARE HERE

Oh, boy, do I have a nice treat for you today: if you thought Netflix will let us enter the new year, which is getting closer than you think, without something spectacular to mark the celebration, you were wrong - they have announced today that their super popular epic historical adventure series VIKINGS: VALHALLA will return back with the second season (which was shot together with the first one and the third one is shooting as well) as soon as January 12th with eight new episodes. After it premiered last February it immediately conquered top ten charts around the world. As you remember, the story is set in the early 11th century and chronicles the legendary adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived – Harald Hardrada, played by our dearest Leo Suter, Leif Eriksson played by Sam Corlett, Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), and the Norman King William the Conqueror. These men and women will blaze a path as they fight for survival in the ever-changing and evolving world. 

 

  VIKINGS: VALHALLA CENTRES ON

 the cultural divide from within the Nordic kingdoms thanks to their conflicting Pagan and Christian beliefs and their bloody conflict with the English royals. All the while, the legendary trio embarks on an epic journey that has them fight to survive and earn glory in their travels across the land. Season two finds them at their lowest following the fall of Kattegat. With their spirits crushed and destines forever altered, they’ll continue on through Scandinavia as fugitives in search of something in the world beyond.

 BRADLEY JAMES JOINS THE CAST

 Returning cast also includes Bradley Freegard (King Canute), Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Olaf Haraldsson), Laura Berlin (queen Emma of Normandy), our boy David Oakes (Earl of Godwin), Pollyanna McIntosh (Queen Ælfgifu) and Soren Pilmark (Sweyn Forkbeard). But the main casting news is that our dearest Bradley James has joined the cast as Harekr, the ruler of Jómsborg and leader of the most pagan Vikings of all, with Hayat Kamille as Muslim astronomer Mariam, Marcin Dorocinski as King Yaroslav the Wise, the uncle of Olaf and Harald and the ruler of Novgorod, and Sofya Lebedeva as Elena, the daughter of a Russian noble. They will be visiting Novgorod so we can expect a lot of Russian nobles and knights in the second season.