VICKI KRIEPS TO LEAD 19TH CENTURY EPIC DRAMA CORSAGE ON AUSTRIA'S FAMOUS HABSBURG EMPRESS SISI!

  'CORSAGE' MOVIE CASTS

VICKY CRIESP AS EMPRESS SISI

Vicky Criesp will take the lead role

While we are waiting to hear any casting updates on the TV series adaptation of Allison Pataki's novel on famous Austrian empress Sisi which I informed you about last year, Cineuropa reports that we might get another project on the monarch. Austrian director Marie Kreutzer is preparing CORSAGE, a historical film that centres on Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria. Set in 1877, the story will portray the monarch renowned for her beauty as she turns 40 and starts being considered an old woman. Luxembourg actress Vicky Crieps, whom you watched in Phantom Thread and in recent Das Boot series, is to play the lead role in the Austrian, German, Hungarian and French co-production.

  Dezzy's History Lesson
The story about Empress Elizabeth was already turned into Germany's most popular period set saga ever decades ago, since her story has always captivated audiences and readers around the globe following the girl who was unexpectedly thrust into

In her vanity, Sisi refused any portraits after age of 32

the centre of Europe’s most treacherous imperial court at the age of 15 when she unwittingly stole the heart of her sister’s fiancé, Emperor Franz Joseph. She then became Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She was a woman ahead of her time who indelibly made her mark with dignity and grace! Some of you may also remember the story of her son, Crown Prince Rudolph who died in a murder suicide together with his infamous lover Maria Vetsera. Her sister Duchess Sophie of Bavaria, died in an accidental fire at the "Bazar de la Charité" in Paris which Netflix recently had a series about. Her 44 year long reign ended when she was killed by an anarchist in 1898 as The Hapsburgs were always hated for their evil imperialism. She was mostly remembered by her beauty and outstanding glamour. She was obsessed with her looks and would spend hours riding and exercising every day in her private gymnasiums fitted with long mirrors. She even took up fencing at the age of 50. She also spent about three hours on hair care every day. She was famous around Europe for her extremely long tresses. She also used daily massages and raw veal or crushed strawberries on her nightly leather facial mask! She bathed in cold water in the mornings and olive oil in the evenings.It is also believed that she had a bulimia as she was obsessed with weight, starving and then binge eating. She was just over 40kg in years before she died.

LAVISH 1ST PHOTOS AND TEASER FOR NEW EPIC TV SAGA 'MEHMED THE CONQUEROR OF THE WORLD' WITH KENAN IMIRZALIOGLU AS SULTAN MEHMED II!

  MEHMED THE CONQUEROR

1ST PHOTOS AND TRAILER  FROM NEW EPIC TV SERIES

Kenan Imirzalioglu plays the title role!

Two years after the spectacular Magnificent Century epic series ended with its Kosem Sultana spin-off, we are finally getting another lavish historical saga from Turkey! First teaser and first photos were released last week for MEHMED: CONQUEROR OF THE WORLD (Mehmed bir cihan fatihi) which will see Turkish superstar Kenan İmirzalıoğlu playing the famous Ottoman sultan who invaded Constantinople and brought Turks onto European ground back in the 15th century!

Mehmed was a ruthless warrior

DEZZY'S HISTORY LESSON
Known for his bloody conquest of Constantinople (today's Istanbul) when he was only 21 back in 1453, Sultan Mehmed is both the most famous and the most infamous of all Turkish rulers who ended Eastern Roman Empire with his invasion. He was known for extreme cruelty and even his stepmother Serbian princess Mara, known also as Despina Mara, who not only raised him after his mother died at the court of his father Sultan Murad, but also secured his way to the throne and then became his official Valida Sultana (Mother Sultana), could not handle his impulsive nature and outbursts of cruelty. He did not stop at Istanbul, and during 30 years of rule he spread the territory of Ottoman Empire all over Anadolia and also in Europe as far as Bosnia and Serbia. He also strengthened Ottoman navy which he used to end up the two month long siege of Constantinople by transporting 80 of his war ships overland in order to surround the city both by sea and land. After he took over Constantinople he also conquered Despotate of Morea, the Empire of Trebizond and Serbia which he thought he had a claim on through his stepmother Despina Mara. He also conquered most of the Black Sea coast and Wallachia (although Vlad Dracula gave him tons of trouble there LOL). He also led war against Venice. According to most historical evidence he was bisexual and very aggressive and cruel to his lovers, both male and female ones. He even allegedly raped the little 14 year old son of the Constantinople general in front of him before beheading the whole family. One of the Wallachian princes was his lover too.

THE REST OF THE CAST

The series, which is expected to start airing sometime this year (I've heard possibly this March) on Turkish Kanal D will also have a cast consisting of Selin Demiratar as his consort Sultana Hatice although I hear she's been replaced in the meantime by Büşra Develi Mehmed so I guess we shall have to wait and see, Seda Bakan as another of his wives Sultana Chichek, Ertan Saban as Byzantine emperor Constantine and others.

PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON LAVISH NEW 18TH CENTURY MINI SERIES 'MARIA THERESIA' ON THE FAMOUS AUSTRIAN HUNGARIAN EMPRESS AND QUEEN

'MARIA THERESIA'

LAVISH NEW PERIOD SET SERIES

The mini series is a four country coproduction

Now, before I let you go and get prepared for you crazy New Year's Eve parties or pyjama TVthons (if that is your humble choice this festive season) and wish you the happiest of New Years in the upcoming 2018, I will leave you with a fresh spotlight on opulent and glitzy new period set mini series MARIA THERESIA which has just aired over on Slovak National Television and also on ORF, Austrian State Broadcaster, during Christmas holidays! If you don't live in Central Europe I know chances are you will never get an opportunity to see it, but, hey, at least you can enjoy the photos and a trailer in our premium spotlight!

MARIA THERESIA
is a 4 million Euro worth two episode small screen biopic dedicated to the famous empress and queen coming from  Austrian director Robert Dornhelm!  Four countries were involved in the creation of the Slovak, Czech, Austrian  and Hungarian coproduction which happens to be the biggest production in the history of Slovakia’s public television. To better understand the scope of the production, here's a trivia for you: the shooting of MARIA THERESIA’s coronation in Bratislava was one of the most challenging parts of the production which involved 220 extras on set, 13 costume designers and 24 make-up artists from Bratislava, Brno and Prague!

THE STORY OF THE MINI SERIES

The young Maria Theresa (Austrian actress Marie Luise Stockinger) sees her life in front of her. She will marry her secret love Franz Stephan (Czech actor Vojtěch Kotek) Prince of Lorraine and get many children. Even if Franz Stephan knows nothing of her plan and her father, Emperor Charles VI, and the almighty Prince Eugene have very different plans for them. Torn, later on, from her marriage bliss with Franz Stephan in Tuscany, MARIA THERESIA found herself after the death of Charles VI. suddenly as his successor on the throne. The affairs of state which her father left to her overwhelm the young woman. The neglected Franz Stephan soon goes his own way. The enemies of Austria wait for the right time to start the destruction of MARIA THERESIA's empire.

DEZZY'S HISTORY LESSON
Maria Theresia was the only female ruler and also the last ever ruler of the house of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma and by marriage, she was also Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Holy Roman Empress! During her 40 year reign she led many defensive wars and was famous for opening schools to all children not just the ones from noble families. She had 11 daughters and 5 sons, two of which became Holy Roman Emperors! She was also famous for reforms in education, finances and agriculture!