PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON LUMINARIES EPIC TV SERIES: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW SHOW STARRING EVA GREEN, MARTON CSOKAS, CALLAN MULVEY, EVE HEWSON

'THE LUMINARIES'

EPIC SERIES ARRIVES TO BBC

If, for obvious reasons, ITV decides to push Singapore Grip to Autumn, six episode epic drama THE LUMINARIES might very well be the last big historical series we shall enjoy till the new season arrives. The small screen

Luminaries will start on BBC June 21st

adaptation of Eleanor Catton's 2013 Man Booker Prize winning novel has just finished airing over at New Zealand but will hit British BBC next weekend, Sunday June 21st, and, if I'm not mistaken, it will also be available on Starz Play.

1860s Gold Rush
The series tells an epic story of love, murder and revenge, as men and women travelled across the world to make their fortunes. It is a 19th century tale of adventure and mystery, set on the Wild West Coast of New Zealand’s

Luminaries is a small screen adaptation of Eleanor Catton's book

South Island in the boom years of the 1860’s gold rush. The story follows defiant young adventurer Anna Wetherell (Eve Hewson), who has sailed from Britain to New Zealand to begin a new life. There she meets the radiant

The Luminaries will air in six hourlong episodes

Emery Staines (Himesh Patel), an encounter that triggers a strange kind of magic that neither can explain. As they fall in love, driven together and apart by fateful coincidence, these star-crossed lovers begin to wonder: do we make our fortunes, or do our fortunes make us?

What To Expect In Episode 1?

The story unfolds in two storylines. The first begins in 1866, with a mystery: a politician, Alastair Lauderback (Benedict Hardie), arrives at a cottage to find a woman, unconscious with opium; a Māori man, also

Eve Hewson leads the cast of the mini series

unconscious; and a corpse. Lauderback brings the woman to town, where she is arrested for public intoxication and held at the jail. The second storyline takes us back nine months earlier to 1865, beginning on the day of Anna

Eva Green plays evil fortune teller and brothel owner Lydia

Wetherell’s (Eve Hewson) arrival in New Zealand. She is fresh-faced and full of promise. After a romantic first encounter, she agrees to meet with fellow

Marton Csokas is a former convict in the new mini series

passenger, Emery Staines (Himesh Patel), but the scheming fortune-teller Lydia Wells (Eva Green) has other designs. Anna is taken under Lydia’s wing, and Emery under the wing of former convict, Francis Carver (Marton

Hamish Patel and Eve Hewson play the lead love couple

Csokas). In 1866 the corpse is brought back from the cottage and identified, and the town jailer, George Shepard (Callan Mulvey), mounts a murder

Erik Thomson, Richard Te Are, Joel Tobeck, Mark Mitchinson, Yoson An also star

investigation. Back in 1865, Emery and Carver are interrupted by a man shouting in Cantonese, who then tries to kill Carver. Lydia’s husband, Crosbie Wells (Ewen Leslie), returns home from the goldfield with a change in fortune.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S MASSIVELY EXTENSIVE LIST OF ALL THE EPIC, HISTORICAL AND PERIOD SET SHOWS WE MIGHT STILL GET TO WATCH IN 2020 AMIDST CORONA PRODUCTION LOCKDOWNS!

ALL THE EPIC TV SHOWS

WE CAN STILL EXPECT IN 2020
I've already told you that after Last Kingdom season 4 which is currently streaming on Netflix we shouldn't expect many epic TV shows on the telly this year due to corona virus. Production on all series has stopped, some

Rege Jean Page leads Bridgerton cast

networks (Sky namely) have halted their productions entirely till 2021, and some are seeking ways to continue with work, BBC is for example looking to shoot by quarantining crews and actors together at overseas filmings. Here are the shows that are already shot and will probably be aired this year.

Bridgerton
Netflix has not only finished shooting their new historical series BRIDGERTON in March, but I hear rumours of a 2nd season already ordered. The adaptation of Julia Quinn's historical romance novels will use the method of black washing to put actors of colour into the roles of dukes, lord and ladies. It will star Polly Walker, Regé Jean Page, Phoebe Dynevor, Julie Andrews, Ben Miller, Luke Newton, Jonathan Bailey, with the story set during England’s early 1800s Regency period following love lives of eight very rich Bridgerton family heirs! Given that it comes from Shonda Rhymes who gave us the criminally bad Still Star Crossed, you can expect cheap cheesiness in this one too.

Cursed

Netflix has already finished shooting Arthurian legends epic mini series CURSED last year, so it is ready to air sometime this year with Katherine Langford as Nimue, a young rebellious heroine whose destiny lies in helping

Cursed will premiere sometime this summer on Netflix

Arthur, a young mercenary to ascend to the throne of Camelot. In another case of blackwashing Devon Turell is playing Arthur, Gustaf Skarsgard is

Matt Stokoe as Sir Gawain in the new epic TV series

Merlin, Matt Stokoe is Sir Gawain, Bella Dayne is Viking captain Red Spear, with Petter Mulan and Daniel Sharman also in the cast.

Black Narcissus

As far as I've heard the shooting of BBC's period set series BLACK NARCISSUS begun in October and was over before the lockdown,  so we will probably be able to see Gemma Arterton (playing a nun struggling to contain her repressed emotions in the remote Himalayan mountains up in the palace of Mopu) sometime this year! The three part adaptation of Rumer Godden’s classic novel will also star Alessandro Nivola, Diana Rigg, Gina Mckee and Jim Broadbent!

The Luminaries

BBC also finished their adaption of Eleanor Catton's Man Booker Prize-winning novel LUMINARIES in early 2019 and it was supposed to air this April but they might be keeping it for summer of autumn. The six part 19th century adventure series, starring Eva Green and Marton Csokas, tells an epic story of love, murder and revenge, as men and women travelled across the world to New Zealand to make their fortunes.

The North Water

British broadcaster also has another historical adventure already finished: four part mini series THE NORTH WATER, based on Ian McGuire's novel in which Colin Farrell as Henry Drax, a harpooner and brutish killer whose amorality has been shaped to fit the harshness of his world, sets sail on a whaling expedition to the Arctic with Patrick Sumner (Jack O'Connell), a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up as the ship’s doctor.

Romulus

Although they halted their international production till next year, Sky Atlantic has a few series already done, for example ROMULUS epic series shot in archaic Latin in ten episodes,  following the story of Romulus (Andrea Arcangeli) and his twin brother Remus (Francesco Di Napoli), in eighth century B.C. as seen through the eyes of three people marked by death, loneliness and violence.

Little Birds

The production of another of Sky's period set mini series has also finished in Andalusia and UK. LITTLE BIRDS inspired by Anais Nin's erotic stories, will be set in Tangier in 1955, in the famous ‘international zone’ - one of the last outposts of colonial decadence, and a culture shock in more ways than one for troubled American debutante Lucy Savage (Juno Temple). Hugh Skinner and Jean Marc Barr also star.

A Discovery Of Witches

Although the first season wasn't period set, the second season of Sky's A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES will be as flimsy witch Diana Bishop (played atrociously by scandalously bad Teresa Palmer) and vampire Matthew Claremont (always charismatic Matthew Goode) have been transported by means of magic to Elizabethan England. We might expect the airing later this year, although nothing has been confirmed.

Warrior Season 2

Although at some point there was a possibility of it having to find a new home as Cinemax was to abandon all scripted programmes, I have info that the 2nd season of their magnificently dynamic series WARRIOR might air in October! Andrew Koji, Kiearan Bew and Tom Weston Jones are to return to 19th century San Francisco China Town. This one was shot at the end of 2019. Chen Tang, Celine Buckens and Miranda Raison have joined the series regular cast together with Maria Elena Laas.

The Singapore Grip

ITV has finished an ambitious and exotic family saga set in colonial Singapore during World War Two. THE SINGAPORE GRIP follows the schemes, both commercial and amorous, of a wealthy British family as they struggle to preserve their prosperous business amid cataclysmic world events. A compelling portrait of a society in decline and a family clinging to a world that is crumbling around them! David Morrissey, Luke Treadaway, Colm Meaney and Charles Dance star in the six part adaptation of J.G. Farrell’s classic novel. It will air either this summer or autumn.

The Spanish Princess Season 2

Although the 1st season was one of the most poorly acted and most amateurishly written and directed shows we've ever had the misfortune to watch, Starz has already finished shooting the 2nd season of THE SPANISH PRINCESS which stars almost offensively talentless Charlotte Hope as Catherine of Aragon. The cast will now also include Ray Stevenson as King James IV of Scotland and Andrew Buchan as social climber Sir Thomas More!

BarkSkins

As I've recently announced, NatGeo will air their new epic TV series BARKSKINS from May 25th with a Hulu release the very next day. Starring David Thewlis, Christian Cooke, Aneurin Barnard and Marcia Gay Harden, the series, based on the novel by Pulitzer-winner Annie Proulx, follows a disparate group of outcasts who must navigate brutal hardships, competing interests, and tangled loyalties at the crossroads of civilization in late 1600s New France.

The Great

Hulu has already set May 15th airing date for their new four part historical comedy series THE GREAT! Elle Fanning leads this fictionalized, irreverent and anachronistic story of an idealistic, romantic young girl who arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to the mercurial Emperor Peter played by Nicholas Hoult.

All Creatures Big And Small

British Channel 5 hasn't set an airing date yet for their remake of popular series ALL CREATURES BIG AND SMALL but I heard they shot a Christmas episode as well so it might be sometime next winter. Nicholas Ralph leads the cast of the series which  chronicles the heartwarming and humorous adventures of a young country vet.

Atlantic Crossing

Our favourite German production house Beta Film has finished filming period set series ATLANTIC CROSSING starring Sofia Helin, Tobias Santelmann, Kyle MacLachlan and Daniel  Betts. The eight episode series brings the story of Crown Princess Märtha who fought for her country and her marriage during the tragic events of World War II.

Empire Oktoberfest

Beta Film has another epic saga in their sleeve for this year, Munich set EMPIRE OKTOBERFEST in which the story revolves around a young girl who falls in love with a poor brewer's son. Their relationship is opposed by the girl's father, a rich mobster who has come to town to try to bully his way into the inner circle of Munich's brewery dynasties.

We can probably expect at least one Spanish and Russian epic TV  series too this year, but it is difficult for me to explore their markets in advance, so stay tuned or email us if you have any info on new epic projects!

SPY'S GUIDE THROUGH PERIOD SET SERIES TO AIR AT SERIES MANIA 2020: LUMINARIES, LITTLE BIRDS, OPERATION BUFFALO, GIRL FROM THE SHORE, SNOWPIERCER

SERIES MANIA 2020

SPY'S PERIOD SET SERIES PICK

It's that time of the year when Series Mania, MipCom, Canneseries and similar events promoting new series are near, and today the spy gives you the pick of period set shows that will be presented at Series Mania in March.

The Luminaries

Anna Wetherell has travelled to 1865 New Zealand to forge a new life. On the last day of her voyage, a romantic first encounter with the radiant Emery

Six part BBC series stars Marton Csokas, Eva Green, Eve Hewson

Staines fills her with great expectations for what lies ahead. However, the scheming fortune-teller Lydia Wells has other ideas for Anna and lays a trap to ensure that the planned rendezvous between the young lovers never takes place.

 Little Birds

Tangier, 1955. New York heiress Lucy Savage (Juno Temple) is fresh off the transatlantic steamer and ready for love and marriage in exotic climes. But

Sky's six part series also stars Jean Marc Barr, Hugh Skinner, Matt Lauria

when her husband Hugo does not receive her in the way she expected, she spins off into an unfamiliar world and goes on a witty, moving and provocative journey towards freedom and independence.

Operation Buffalo

South Australia, 1956. The Menzies government has just welcomed British atomic bomb testing at Maralinga. Charged with keeping the nuclear base running smoothly is Major Leo Carmichael, an Australian Army engineer and

ABC Australia series stars Ewen Leslie, James  Cromwell, Jessica de Gouv

WWII hero. But testing the most dangerous weapon in the world is not an easy task with a Commanding Officer who is not fit for the job; a new meteorologist asking too much questions; and the government and press watching their every move. And as it turns out, the land of Maralinga may not be as uninhabited as it seems.

Snowpiercer

Set more than seven years after the world became a frozen wasteland, it centres on the remnants of humanity who inhabit a perpetually moving train,

TNT ten episode series staring Jennifer Connelly airs May 31st

with 1,001 cars, that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in this riveting television adaptation based on the graphic novel series and film!

Wonderland. Girl From The Shore

This is a story about a mysterious woman (Olga Kurylenko), pretty as a picture. A woman in danger. A woman who refuses to love and to be loved. Of

It is a six episode French language series

a man who travels, from Paris to Biarritz, and finds himself lost during the summer of 1960. Pierre Deladonchamps, Pierre Perrier, Barbara Schulz, Simon Abkarian also star.

NEW PERIOD SET SERIES TO EXPECT IN THE FIRST PART OF 2020: FROM NEW ZEALAND GOLD RUSH, POST NAPOLEONIC LONDON TO ARCTIC, RUSSIAN IMPERIAL COURT AND AGATHA CHRISTIE

     WINT/SPRING 2020 EPIC SHOWS

 THE LUMINARIES

 Arriving sometime very soon (probably sooner to New Zealand than to BBC) is the six episode adaptation of Eleanor Catton's book THE LUMINARIES starring Marton Csokas, Eva Green, Eve Hewson and Callan Mulvey. It is an adventure mystery set in the midst of New Zealand's 1860's gold rush. Expect a trailer very soon.

THE PALE HORSE
 BBC is entering the race first as it will start airing their latest  Agatha Christie series THE PALE HORSE from February 9th. Rufus Sewell leads the two episode mini series as the man who investigates a murder in a beautiful little village. Is a trio of witches responsible for a series of sudden deaths there or is there a rational explanation? You can expect a trailer very soon!

MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE

 A&E will greet spring with new six part period set drama MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE starring Kate Phillips as London's first Victorian female detective with Stuart Martin playing her partner. It will air on UKTV's Alibi channel and on PBS Masterpiece in USA. In Germany it will air on RTL, in Australia on Seven Network.

    THE NORTH WATER 
BBC will also grace us with Arctic set four episode thriller series THE NORTH WATER based on the novel by Ian McGuire. Colin Farrell and Jack O'Connell star in a story set in a 19th century whaling expedition to the Arctic where an army surgeon finds himself on an ill-fated journey with a murderous psychopath. In search of redemption, his story becomes a harsh struggle for survival in the Arctic wasteland.

BELGRAVIA

Easter will, meanwhile, bring us Julian Fellowes' new 19th century set costume drama BELGRAVIA set to air on Epix from April 12th and possibly a bit earlier on ITV in UK.  It follows events decades after a crucial ball ahead of the battle of Waterloo when the emerging nouveau riche, including the Trenchard family, rub shoulders with London's established upper classes, and when secrets from the past threaten to emerge.

     THE GREAT 
Hulu will meanwhile, end the spring season with three part historical comedy THE GREAT in which Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult play Catherine the Great and Peter of Russia. The series offers an anti-historical ride through 18th century Russia following the wildly comic rise of Catherine the Nothing to Catherine the Great. It is out May 15th.

1ST LOOK AT EVA GREEN IN BBC'S 19TH CENTURY EPIC TV SERIES THE LUMINARIES! NOAH CENTINEO WANTED AS HE-MAN IN MASTERS OF UNIVERSE?

'THE LUMINARIES'

FIRST LOOK AT EVA GREEN

BBC 2 has released the first photo of Eva Green from their new six part period set series THE LUMINARIES which also stars Eve Hewson, Himesh Patel, Ewen Leslie, Marton Csokas, Erik Thomson,

Eva Green takes one of the lead roles in the new series

Benedict Hardie, Yoson An! Set in the 1860's years of New Zealand's Golden Rush it follows defiant adventurer Anna Wetherell (Hewson), who has

The series is based on Eleanor Catton's book of the same name

sailed from Britain to begin a new life. There she meets the radiant Emery Staines (Patel), an encounter that triggers a strange kind of magic that neither

The series is currently shooting over at New Zealand

can explain. As they fall in love, driven together and apart by fateful coincidence, these star-crossed lovers begin to wonder: do we make our fortunes, or do our fortunes make us?

MASTERS OF UNIVERSE

WANTS TO GIVE NOAH CENTINEO

Noah Centineo could be the new He-Man

THE THRONE OF GREY SCULL?

Something that was met with mostly negative reactions today around the web is info that Noah Centineo is wanted for the lead role in the epic movie adaptation of MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE in which he would play Prince Adam who turns into He-Man. The movie was previously supposed to be made in a very rich and epic Lord of the Rings style by David S. Goyer but he left the project which is now being directed by Aaron and Adam Nee. Noah Centineo is only known for starring in Netflix comedies To All the Boys I've Loved Before and How to Build a Better Boy! Adam, the prince of Eternia is a blond haired muscly mediaeval Nordic type of hunk with a massive sword in the comic books and animated movie, so no one knows why they've opted for a very dark type as Centineo.

1ST TRAILER FOR 'MEDICI: THE MAGNIFICENT' 15TH CENTURY EPIC TV SERIES SEASON 2 IS HERE WITH DANIEL SHARMAN, BRADLEY JAMES, SEAN BEAN! MARTON CSOKAS, EVE HEWSON TO LEAD BBC'S EPIC 19TH CENTURY NEW ZEALAND SET TV SERIES 'LUMINARIES'

  'MEDICI: THE MAGNIFICENT'

2ND SEASON TRAILER REVEALED!

The second season starts October 23rd in Italy

You probably remember that your spy's favourite epic series last year was Medici: Masters of Florence! The first season was absolutely magnificent and it seems the second one could be, at least its name says so, the same: MEDICI: THE MAGNIFICENT is ready to start airing on Italian national broadcaster RAI October 23rd and we can hope it will air its English language version sometime this winter on Netflix Unlike the first season which followed Cosimo Medici in the amazing performance of Richard Madden, this one will focus on his grandsons Lorenzo, played by Daniel Sharman, and his brother Giuliano, played by

Sarah Parish, Daniel Sharman and Bradley James are the Medicis

Bradley James. The cast will also include Sarah Parish as their mother Lucrezia, Sean Bean as their enemy Jacopo de' Pazzi, Raoul Bova as Pope Sixtus IV, Sebastian de Souza as Sandro Botticelli and Alessandra Mastronardi as Lucrezia Donati!

 

MEDICI: THE MAGNIFICENT
has the story set in 1470. Medici's family power has been consolidated over time. Lorenzo is called to take his father's place after an attempt on his life which reveals years of poor bank management from them. As new head of

Netflix will air the English version probably this winter!

Medici's family he has to take care of his brother Giuliano and his sister Bianca. He marries Clarice Orsini, a noble woman from Rome, and his friendship with Botticelli gives life to Renaissance. His contrast with Pope Sixtus brings Florence to the most bloody moment of its History, the Pazzi conspiracy.

  BBC'S 'THE LUMINARIES'

EPIC TV SERIES SETS MARTON CSOKAS, EVE HEWSON AS LEADS

Marton Csokas returns to New Zealand after Lord of the Rings

Speaking of epic series, BBC Two has announced the cast for their historical series THE LUMINA- RIES  the six part TV adaptation of the popular Man Booker Prize winning novel by Eleanor Catton! Into the Badlands star Marton Csokas and Robin Hood star Eve Hewson will lead the cast as Francis Carver and Anna Wetherell! Eva Green will play Lydia Wells.

Eve Hewson is Susan Sarandon's daughter

THE LUMINARIES tells an epic story of love, murder and revenge, as men and women travelled across the world to make their fortunes. It is a 19th century tale of adventure and mystery, set on the Wild West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island in the boom years of the 1860s gold rush. The story follows defiant young adventurer Anna Wetherell, who has sailed from Britain to New Zealand to begin a new life. There she meets the radiant Emery Staines, an encounter that triggers a strange kind of magic that neither can explain. As they fall in love, driven together and apart by fateful coincidence, these star-crossed lovers begin to wonder: do we make our fortunes, or do our fortunes make us?

'LION' TRAILER WITH DEV PATEL, NICOLE KIDMAN, DAVID WENHAM! BBC TO TURN ELEANOR CATTON'S 'THE LUMINARIES' INTO 1860'S GOLD RUSH ADVENTURE EPIC TV SERIES!

BBC TURNS 'THE LUMINARIES' 

INTO GOLD RUSH EPIC TV SERIES

Here's a new period set project for us: BBC 2 is to turn Eleanor Catton's novel THE LUMINARIES into a six part TV series set on the Wild West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island in the boom years of the 1860s gold rush!

The 2013 Man Booker Prize winner starts in 1865, following a defiant young adventurer Anna Wetherell, who has sailed from Britain to New Zealand to begin a new life. There she meets the radiant Emery Staines, an encounter that triggers a strange kind of magic that neither can explain. But Anna must survive the dangerous world, where shipwreck and murder, blackmail and betrayal, greed, gold and false imprisonment all conspire to keep her apart from Emery. The star-crossed lovers begin to wonder: Do we make our fortunes, or do our fortunes make us?

MOVING 'LION' TRAILER

 DAV PATEL & NICOLE KIDMAN

And the first trailer has been released for another adaptation, this time  Saroo Brierley’s 2013 memoir A Long Way Home! LION follows the 5 year old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) who becomes separated from his family after falling asleep on a parked train, and winds up 1,000 miles from his village in Calcutta. After learning to survive in Kolkata, Saroo is ultimately adopted by an Australian Couple (Nicole Kidman, David Wenham). But as he grows (Dev Patel), questions linger about the life he left behind. With the help of Google Earth, Saroo sets out to find his family. The movie is out November 25th!