PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS WITH DAVID TENNANT WHICH AIRS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! NEW TRAILER AND CHARACTER PHOTOS!

 AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

STARTS THESE HOLIDAYS

The series arrives at the end of the year

Some say it will be another woke crap (Passepartout is blackwashed and instead of an Indian princess you get a feminist female lead in the middle of the 19th century) and some say AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS will bring family entertainment to festive days at the end of the year, but we will judge for ourselves this December if you are in Europe (BBC will air it in their Christmas programme) or January 2nd on PBS Masterpiece if you are in America. RAI will air it in Italy, ZDF in Germany (the series will actually first stream there from

The series will air in eight hourlong episodes

December 11th), French television and Channel 7 in Australia. The series consists of 8 episodes each costing 3 million euro. The series has already been greenlit for a second season.

David Tennant is Phileas Fogg in the series

  AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS 

will bring a new small screen adaptation of Jules Verne's famous period set adventure led this time by David Tennant as Phileas Fogg, preposterously upper middle class, over educated Englishman with a childlike sense of wonder because he’s never traveled, and he’s never left London or his club. Following an outrageous bet, Fogg and his valet, Passepartout (played by Ibrahim Koma), take on the legendary journey of circumnavigating the globe in just 80 days, swiftly joined by

Ibrahim Koma was cast to play Passepartout

aspiring journalist Abigail Fix (Leonie Benesch), who seizes the chance to report on this extraordinary story. Ibrahim Koma's mercurial Passepartout is now an irrepressible chancer who falls into the role of Fogg’s valet, little

Leonie Benesch is Abigail Fix in the series

knowing it will change his life forever; Leonie Benesch stars as Abigail Fix, the young journalist determined to make her mark in a man’s world and emerge from the long shadow of her British establishment father! The cast also

It is interesting that this is only a second TV adaptation of Jules Verne's classic after the one with Pierce Brosnan

includes Jason Watkins as newspaper editor Bernard Fortescue; and Peter Sullivan as Fogg’s old antagonist Nyle Bellamy. Lindsay Duncan (blink and you will miss her in the trailer below)and Gary Beadle are also in the cast.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS TV SERIES TRAILER WITH DAVID TENNANT! RUFUS SEWELL, JAI COURTNEY TO LEAD JIGSAW HEIST NETFLIX SERIES!

 JIGSAW HEIST TV SERIES 

JAI COURTNEY & RUFUS SEWELL

Netflix and Ridley Scott are producing a new heist TV series JIGSAW loosely inspired by the real-life story where seventy billion dollars in bonds went missing in downtown Manhattan during Hurricane Sandy! Spanning 24

The eight part series is already shooting in Brooklyn

years, the series will describe what happened two decades before and a year after the heist. With Rufus Sewell as a security expert and Jai Courtney as a safecracker in the cast, the series will also star Giancarlo Esposito as a thief, Paz Vega as an attorney, Tati Gabrielle and others.

 

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

FIRST TEASER IS HERE

First teaser has been released for new adventure TV series AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS which is arriving later this year to BBC, PBS in USA, RAI in Italy, ZDF in Germany and French national television.  David

The series will most probably air for holidays

Tennant stars as literature's greatest explorer Phileas Fogg in a thrilling new adaptation of Jules Verne's classic adventure novel with Ibrahim Koma as

The characters have been changed to suit the woke agenda

his valet Jean Passepartout, and Leonie Benesch as headstrong journalist Abigail "Fix" Fortescue. First two episodes will premiere at Canneseries October 10th.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S MEGA LIST OF ALL EPIC, FANTASY AND HISTORICAL SHOWS AIRING TILL THE END OF 2021: EMPRESSES, GALAXIES, VIKINGS, RUSSIAN PRINCES, SORCERERS AND TRAVELLERS WILL RULE THE AUTUMN

  EPIC SHOWS AUTUMN 2021  

 CZARINA ELIZABETH

Although we've seen her in both of the recent series on Catherine the Great, her mother in law empress ELIZABETH is getting her own historical saga on Russia 1 this Autumn! Yuliya Hlinina plays Empress Elizabeth,

Elizabeth will be a new Russian series on the famous czarina

daughter of Peter I, who was only sixteen when her father left her in control of a huge empire. For Elizabeth, the throne became a curse: against her will, the girl finds herself drawn into a whirlpool of palace intrigues, where she is opposed by influential courtiers!

AUSTRIAN EMPRESS SISI

She won't be the only empress getting a series as German TVNow will air new six part saga SISI, probably for Holidays. It follows the extraordinary life of empress Elisabeth of Austria (Dominique Devenport). Told from the

Sisi will probably air for Holidays on ORF in Austria

perspective of her closest confidants, the 19th century set series takes a new look at the empress' life and reveals a multi-layered woman. Jannik Schumann is emperor Franz. 

ISAAC ASIMOV'S FOUNDATION

The only intergalactic sf epic action series we will get this season is FOUNDATION which will arrive to Apple TV September 24th in ten episodes. Starring Lee Pace, Jared Harris and Daniel MacPherson, this

Foundation starts at the end of the month at Apple TV Plus

small screen adaptation of Asimov's cult series is a complex saga of humans scattered on planets throughout the galaxy all living under the rule of the Galactic Empire.

 

RIDLEY ROAD AT BBC

BBC is secretive about their programme as usual, but I did spy with my little eye that their new series RIDLEY ROAD might be arriving this October. Starring our dear Tom Varey,  the four-part series blends 60s

Tom Varey takes the male lead in Ridley Road

period romance with darker, more socially conscious intrigue in the story of a young Jewish hairdresser (Agnes O'Casey) who arrives wide-eyed in London and becomes caught up in the anti-fascist movement of the city’s East End!

 

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

BBC will also present us with their new version of Jules Verne's AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, probably around Christmas. The series will premiere at Canneseries in October! The eight part drama follows David Tennant as Phileas Fogg and his newly employed French valet

The series will probably be a holiday series for BBC

Passepartout as they attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days as part of an outrageous bet. Along the way they’re joined by an aspiring journalist, Abigail Fix, who seizes the opportunity to report on the legendary journey. Production finished in March.

VIKINGS VALHALLA SPINOFF

Netflix still has this one set for 2021 although they might postpone it as they have Witcher in December. Or it might arrive in November? VALHALLA did finish post production last month and they've apparently started production on season 2! Starring our boos David Oakes, Leo Suter

David Oake in the first photo from the sets!

and Sam Corlett, it is set 100 years after the original series ends and chronicles the exploits of the most famous Vikings of all time – Leif Erikson, Freydis, Harald Harada, and Norman King William the Conqueror! Michael Hirst is producing.

 

RUSSIAN PRISONER

The Prisoner will be a 12 episode saga

Russian broadcaster is ready to bring us a new 12 episode lavish saga RUSSIAN PRISONER  following Alekha (Ilya Malakov) an honest, strong, freedom loving Cossack who decided to fulfill his father's last will. As a result, he goes to a foreign land in order to bow to the Virgin Mary. By the will of fate, he finds himself in the palace of the Sultan Mehmed (Serbian star Ivan Bosiljcic) of the Ottoman Empire where he is taken prisoner and sent to become one of the evil Jannisaries and must serve the sultan he hates. More here.

 

NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN

Is coming to us from Australian SBS October 13th and I already showed you the trailer. Starring our handsome boy Yoson An, four part series NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN is set in  1857, where the charismatic headman of the

New Gold Mountain will be coming to us from Australia

Chinese mining camp struggles to maintain the fragile harmony between Chinese and European diggers when a murdered European woman is discovered to have links to the Chinese community.

THE GILDED AGE AT HBO

This one also might be pushed again, but the ten episode HBO series THE GILDED AGE from Julian Fellowes did finish production. Starring Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Blake Ritson, Harry

Gilded Age might arrive this year to HBO

Richardson, Thomas Cocquerel, Nathan Lane and many others, it will follow a number of rich families during the Gilded Age, the boom years of 1880s New York City. 

 

LAND OF LEGENDS SERIES

Land of Legends will also be a film

Also coming from Russia till the end of the year, with Beta Film distributing worldwide, is LAND OF LEGENDS, an epic, visually stunning series based on an Alexei Ivanov novel, combining historical drama with mystery and fantasy. The 15th century. Sent from Moscow, Prince Yermolay wants to unite all peoples of Perm, Christians and pagans alike. To do so, he, a Christian, seizes the pagans' most powerful artefact, the Golden Woman, or Sorni Nai, only to be killed in battle shortly thereafter. His son Mikhail (Aleksandr Kuznetsov), however, gains the respect of the locals and marries Tiche, a beautiful, yet mysterious woman.

Grand Prince Mikhail is the lead character in the series

Little does he know that Tiche is the living incarnation of the Sorni Nai: Her supernatural powers and their bond grant him control over Perm.  

THE WHEEL OF TIME

The only epic fantasy series we are getting this year will arrive to Amazon November 19th! Set in a high fantasy world where magic exists, but only some can access it, eight part THE WHEEL OF TIME will see Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike leads the cast of Wheel of Time series

playing a woman named Moiraine who crosses paths with five young men and women. This sparks a dangerous, world-spanning journey. Based on the book series by Robert Jordan. See trailer here.

PARAMOUNT TV'S 1883 SERIES

Although it is still in production Paramount TV has announced December 19th as the starting date of their new 1883 historical ten part series which will be a prequel to their Yellowstone drama. Starring Tim McGraw,

1883 is a Yellowstone prequel series at Paramount TV

Faith Hill, this Taylor Sheridan produced series follows the Dutton family on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America.

 

SERIES THAT MIGHT ALSO ARRIVE

There are a few series that according to my knowledge have finished shooting but I'm not sure if they will arrive till the end of year: Keeley

First pic of Keeley in Midwich Cuckoos series

Hawes' THE MIDWICH CUCKOOS at Sky, Emily Blunt's THE ENGLISH Western at BBC and also their SAS: ROGUE HEROES with Jack O'Connell.

CATHEDRAL & PETER THE GREAT

Russian television is ready to start airing 16 part historical saga THE CATHEDRAL this Autumn! The story is set in the year 1700, the time of dramatic changes in the Russian Empire, the time of reformations carried out

The Cathedral will air on Russian National Broadcaster

by Peter the Great. Sergey Marin plays young serf Ivan Starshov is head over heels in love with Maria, the daughter of his master. He doesn't want to accept that the young princess is no match for him and prove his love he will even dedicate her a cathedral in the imperial capital.

 

THE HOTEL SACHER

This two season historical series aired on German ZDF and Austrian ORF four years ago, but it is airing from September 10, on the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel and the Walter Presents digital channels. Set in the city of Vienna around 1900, it tells the story of Anna Sacher (Ursula

Hotel Sacher aired in two season in Germany and Austria

Strauss), the widow of Eduard Sacher, who was the founder and owner of the Hotel Sacher, and the son of Franz Sacher, inventor of the famous Sachertorte. The story begins with Eduard’s death and Anna’s tough decision to take over the management of the Hotel. 

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S MEGA MASSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON ALL THE PERIOD SET AND EPIC TV SHOWS ARRIVING TO THE SMALL SCREENS IN 2021!

    2021 EPIC TV SHOWS   

EPIC FANTASY, IMPERIAL RUSSIA, ROMANS AND VIKINGS

Another year has just started and the spy is here with the list of all the period set and epic shows we might get the chance to watch in 2021. With BBC and ITV in production hiatus, the genre will look rather bleak. Some shows I haven't included in the list (Lord of the Rings, Cowboy Bebop) as I don't believe we will get to see them this year, and even the new seasons of Witcher and Last Kingdom could be delayed. We will probably get second season of All Creatures Great and Small and third season of Lost in Space.

VALHALLA AT NETFLIX

Netflix' sequel to Vikings, might get delayed till 2022, but if we get it this year it will be late winter, methinks. Created by Tudors' and Vikings' Michael Hirst, it will be set over 100 years after the events of Vikings: the end of the Viking age draws ever closer as the Kingdom of England stands tall against its

Valhalla might not arrive this year!

Scandinavian raiders. Historical figures such as Leif Eriksson, Freydis Eriksdottir, Harald Hardrada, and William the Conqueror, will all appear. Netflix hasn't revealed the cast, but the hottest gossip of the year is that David Oakes will star, and so will Kenneth Christensen, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Bill Murphy, Alan Devine, Gavin O’Connor, Jack Mullarkey, Ethan Dillon and Frida Gustavsson!

THE NORTH WATER AT BBC

Is the last of all the series ordered three years ago to finally arrive to the small screens. It tells the story of Patrick Sumner (Jack O'Connell), a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up as ship's doctor on a whaling expedition to the Arctic. On board he meets Henry Drax (Colin Farrell), the harpooner, a brutish killer whose amorality has been shaped to fit the harshness of his world. In search of redemption, his story becomes a harsh struggle for survival in the Arctic wasteland.

THE CATHEDRAL FROM RUSSIA

One of the series that is coming from Russia this year is The Cathedral set in the time when Peter the Great was building up and reforming the Russian empire. Set in the 1700s, the epic saga will follow Sergey Marin as young serf Ivan Starshov who wants to build a cathedral in Sankt Peterburg to impress his love Maria, the daughter of his master. Maksim Averin plays the tzar himself.

THE NEVERS AT HBO

Although scandalous Joss Whedon has been kicked out of the producer's seat this winter, this one is coming to us this summer starring Tom Riley, Ben Chaplin, James Norton, Olivia Williams, Eleanor Tomlinson, Laura Donnelly, Nick Frost in an epic tale following a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

A new, wokeish take on the famous adventure will air this year on BBC, HBO, RAI and ZDF starring David Tennant as  gentleman adventurer Phileas Fogg who sets out on a quest to travel around the world and back home in a period of 80 days. Based on Jules Verne's popular book, it will have eight episodes.

BECOMING ELIZABETH AT STARZ

After their atrocious take on Catherine of Aragon in Spanish Princess, Starz is doing a series on her daughter's rival Elizabeth I but in her young age. Alicia von Rittberg has been cast as Elizabeth Tudor, an orphaned teenager who becomes embroiled in the political and sexual politics of the English court on her journey to secure the crown. It is possible this one will arrive in spring next year not in 2021.

STEPHEN KING'S CHAPEL WAITE AT EPIX

I'm not sure what is the status of this one, based on Stephen King's fan popular Jerusalem's Lot. In this Gothic horror costume drama which should air sometime this year on Epix in USA, Adrien Brody plays Captain Charles Boone who relocates his family of three children to his ancestral home in the small, seemingly sleepy town of Preacher's Corners, Maine after his wife dies at sea. The cast also includes Emily Hampshire who stars as the nanny of the family.

WHEEL OF TIME AT AMAZON

I'm also not sure if the small screen adaptation of  Robert Jordan's famous epic saga will arrive this year as it has been announced. It is set in a rich fantasy world where magic exists, but only certain women are allowed to access it. Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) is a member of an incredibly powerful all-female organization, and the story follows her as she embarks on a dangerous, world spanning journey. She is joined by five young men and women, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn (Josha Stradowski), who will either save or destroy humanity.

FOUNDATION AT APPLE TV

Apple TV is bringing is this epic fantasy adaptation of award winning novel by Isaac Asimov. It will be a complex ten episode saga of humans scattered on planets throughout the galaxy all living under the rule of the Galactic Empire ruled by Lee Pace as the emperor. Jared Harris also stars in the story which follows a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization after the fall of the Galactic Empire. 

GERMINAL FROM FRANCE

France 2 is, meanwhile, bringing us an epic small screen adaptation of Zola's famous novel. Louis Peres stars as our late 19th century hero Etienne Lantier, a miner in love with a young woman courted by a brutal worker, who will push his comrades to strike when the mining company lowers wages. Alix Poisson, Guillaume de Tonquédec, Sami Bouajila and Thierry Godard also star in the six episode series that will also air on Italian RAI.

MAYA AND THE THREE

Now this one will be an animated mini series, but it is epic in genre. Netflix is preparing this nine episode adventure about a demigod warrior princess who embarks on a quest to recruit three legendary fighters to help save the world of men and gods. Creator Jorge Gutierrez calls the English language series a Mexican, funny Lord of the Rings! 

DOMINA AT SKY

Your Spy's personal favourite this year, eight episode historical saga on Ancient Roman empress Livia Drusilla (Kasia Smutniak), who after many hardships becomes the most powerful woman in the world, will have tons of our dearest period set series stars starring in it from Matthew McNulty and Ben Batt to Liam Cunningham, Bart Edwards, Tom Forbes and Lex Shrapnel next to Isabella Rossellini and Claire Forlani! 

VOSKRESENSKIY FROM RUSSIA

I've already introduced you to this one a few weeks ago. Coming to Russia 1 in eight episodes with actor Yuri Kolokolnikov transforming into a talented pre WW1 detective doctor to help the police solve intricate murder cases. Episode by episode, he will prove that real murderers are behind the crimes, and not otherworldly forces and mysticism, as it might seem at first glance. 

SHADOW AND BONE AT NETFLIX

Will be another small screen adaptation of a popular epic saga, this time from Leigh Bardugo. Eight episodes of this epic series will be set in a Russia inspired magical land following a young woman with newfound powers who tries to save her land from a powerful, evil force. Ben Barnes is the most famous name starring in this fantasy series scheduled to hit the streamer later this April!

GLOW AND DARKNESS

I'm not sure if we will get to see this one as it still hasn't opened international sales, but this lavish saga is envisioned as a three season series which tells the intertwined stories of characters such as Saladin, Emperor Barbarossa, Richard the Lionheart, Philip Augustus, Francis of Assisi and Eleanor of Aquitaine, among others. It is the time of the burghs, the fairs, the

Provencal literature and the crusades. Jane Seymour, Geraldine Chaplin, Joan Collins, Mira Sorvino, Denise Richards, Steve Buyers, Bart Edwards and Dominic Andersen, in the lead role of Assisi, are just some of the stellar cast members.

LAND OF LEGENDS

Will be another saga coming from Russia. The 15th century. Sent to remote Parma by the Grand Prince of Moscow, prince Yermolay tells his son Mikhail about his dream: to create a grand princedom that would unite the peoples inhabiting these lands. Soon Yermolay is killed in the battle against the rebellious local tribes, the Voguls. His heir Mikhail finds himself in the middle of two worlds – the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the ancient lands of Perm populated by pagans.

LEONARDO FROM ITALY

Will depict famous painter Leonardo da Vinci (Aidan Turner) and his extraordinary life through the works that made him famous, through the stories hidden within those works, revealing little by little the inner torment of a man obsessed with attaining perfection. A detective series in plot, it will depict Leo as gay that he delightfully was.

NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN

Is coming to us this year from Australian streamer SBS. Four part epic series starring Mulan and Luminaries’ Yoson An alongside Vikings’ Alyssa Sutherland, Christopher James Baker and Dan Spielman, tells the untold story of the Australian gold rush from the perspective of Chinese miners who risked everything for a chance at unlikely fortune in a new land.

THE IRREGULARS AT NETFLIX

The eight episode drama offers a twist on the classic tale of Sherlock Holmes, by focusing on a group of children whose crime-solving work is taken credit by Holmes. Henry Lloyd Hughes will play the evil Holmes, with Harrison Osterfield (in the photo in his costume) as the leader of the youngsters.

THE GILDED AGE

Coming to HBO from Julian Fellowes it will be set in 19th century New York following a wide eyed young scion of a conservative family who embarks on a mission to infiltrate the wealthy neighboring clan dominated by ruthless railroad tycoon George Russell (Morgan Spector), his rakish son, Larry, and his ambitious wife, Bertha (Carrie Coon). The insanely big cast also includes Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon and Poldark's sweetheart Harry Richardson alongside Da Vinci's Demons villain Blake Ritson and Jeanne Tripplehorn.

THE SLAVS FROM SLOVAKIA

Will be their most expensive series and will finally air on national channels in Slovakia and Ukraine. This 12 episode fantasy adventure series is set in the 7th Century and follows the lives of the occupants of the Carpathian basin, at the time before the union of Slav tribes! The plot takes place at the neighboring forts Big table and Furnau, which need each other for trade but the power interests and the pressure from the incoming Avar marauders will put them into conflict.

THE PRISONER

Also coming from Russia is this Turkey set saga in which Ilya Malakov (whom we fell in love with in Kolovrat) plays a Cossack who gets imprisoned in the palace of the Ottoman sultan and if forced to become his janissary. The series will have 12 episode and will feature Serbian actors too.

DIANA DE POITIERS

Isabella Adjani will play the title role in this two episode historical mini series on the famous 16th century lover of the French king Henry II who will be played by much younger Nicolas Duvauchell. The series will also star Jean Reno and Mathieu Almaric.

YOUNG VOLTAIRE

Will be a French four episode historical saga following the adventures of the young Voltaire. Thomas Soliveres will play the famous philosopher, writer and thinker in his youth. He left a deep mark on many European rulers and writers. France 3 is producing the series.