SEE JACK O'CONNELL, COLIN FARRELL AT ARCTIC IN NEW NORTH WATER EPIC TV SERIES PHOTOS! SHAKESPEARE'S SON CENTRED BOOK HAMNET GETS MOVIE ADAPTATION BY SAM MENDES

   NEW THE NORTH WATER  

PICS FROM BBC EPIC SERIES

We have been waiting for this one for over two years now and it still does not have a clear airing date but BBC has announced that it will air this Autumn on BBC 2 (I'm guessing that does not tell us anything good about the

The series will air in five hourlong episodes

quality of the series) together with releasing a few new photos from THE NORTH WATER historical thriller series which stars Jack O’Connell as Patrick Sumner, Colin Farrell as Henry Drax, and Stephen Graham as

The North Water will air this Autumn on BBC 2 not One

Captain Brownlee, alongside Tom Courtenay as Baxter, seen here in character for the first time. The North Water also stars Peter Mullan, Sam Spruell and Roland Møller. While the series will air sometime in Autumn on BBC, the July 15th date has been set for US audience over at ACM!

     THE FIVE PART SERIES

 based on the acclaimed novel by Ian McGuire, 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. But the ferocity of the

Jack O'Connell leads the cast as ex army surgeon

elements is matched by the violence of his crew mates, with Drax (Colin Farrell), a harpooner and distinctly brutal force of nature. As the true

Collin Farrell plays the main villain in the new series

purpose of the expedition becomes clear, confrontation between the two men erupts, taking them on a journey far from solid ground and beyond the safe moorings of civilisation.

The series was shot up in the frozen Northern seas

Set in Hull and on the ice floes of the Arctic in the late 1850s, The North Water’s location work took place primarily in the Arctic, shooting on the

Tom Courtenay also stars in the ensemble cast

frozen seas north of the Svalbard Archipelago. The cast and production team sailed as far as 81 degrees north to film sequences in the pack ice, the furthest point north it is believed a drama series has ever filmed before.

 

 

  HAMNET HISTORICAL NOVEL 

TO GET MOVIE ADAPTATION

Sam Mendes will produce the film

Well, Kenneth Branagh already covered the topic with Judi Dench last year, but Sam Mendes is going to produce a big screen adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's award winning book HAMNET. This  historical fiction novel imagines the story of Agnes, the wife of Britain’s most famous writer William Shakespeare, as she struggles to come to terms with the loss of their only son, Hamnet. The novel charts the emotional, familial and artistic consequences of that loss, bringing to life a human and heart-stopping story as the backdrop to the creation of Shakespeare’s most famous play, Hamlet. Chiara Atik is penning the script for the movie adaptation.

WHAT ARE OUR FAVOURITE PERIOD SET GENRE STARS DOING NEXT: BART EDWARDS, MATTHEW MCNULTY, LEX SHRAPNEL, MARK ROWLEY, MAX BENNETT?

 PERIOD SET GENRE STARS

WITCHER'S BART EDWARDS

Today we're doing a little spotlight on some of the dashing faces you've been noticing in period set shows in recent years and will probably keep up seeing them in the future as well. Since we have a talent for discovering future stars,

Bart Edwards is returning soon in Domina

here are some of them. You've probably first noticed irresistibly charming Bart Edwards two years ago in THE WITCHER but you haven't seen his face there as he was a hedgehog prince Urcheon. But you definitely did enjoy his gorgeous charms and manly charisma in SINGAPORE GRIP in which he flawlessly wore the uniform as captain Ehrendorf. When it comes to future projects, he will, believe it or not, star in both of our two most anticipated epic projects: GLOW AND DARKNESS epic TV series which will follow some of the most famous medieval heroes such as Barbarossa, Saladin, Richard the Lionheart, Eleanor of Aquitaine! Bart will be legendary knight Raynald of Chatillon! In Ancient Rome set DOMINA at Sky he will also appear as Iullus.

MILL'S MATTHEW MCNULTY

Matthew will be an emperor in Domina

We've first noticed this charming Brit in BBC's legendary series THE MILL in which he gave a deeply touching performance of a 19th century cotton mill engineer, and before that as one of the stars of JAMAICA INN 19th century mini series. After that he played Lucien Grimaud in BBC's THE MUSKETEERS series and will then return to the French court in VERSAILLES epic series as well! He also played a lieutenant in  the 19th century Arctic set THE TERROR. In the future he will join Bart Edwards in DOMINA epic saga which will follow the rise of empress Livia Drusilla. In it he will be the future emperor of Rome Gaius! Which means we will enjoy McNulty in a Roman toga! 

MEDICI'S LEX SHRAPNEL

You've seen another of our absolute fave period set genre series stars Lex Shrapnel (who is, did you know, the grandson of legendary Hollywood diva

We still fondly remember Lex from Harlots

Deborah Kerr) in SONS OF LIBERTY where he played William Dawes, and then as Biblical Jonathan in A.D. THE BIBLE CONTINUES mini series. But he definitely stole our hearts as wonderfully scheming and ultimately magnetic villain Rinaldo Albizzi in Italy's best ever historical saga MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE. After that he gave us the wonderfully good Lord James Croft, who had a soft heart (and hard something else) for male whores in Hulu's epic series HARLOTS. Believe it or not, our Lexy dearest will also appear in DOMINA in which he will be Crassus. Where are our smelling salts?

LAST KINGDOM'S MARK ROWLEY

Mark Rowley is everyone favourite Finan!

And how could we forget our favourite medieval jester and warrior Mark Rowley from THE LAST KINGDOM in which he plays Uhtred's right hand and best friend, brave and charming Finan? Before that you actually saw him in many other period set shows: in ITV's WW2 set HOME FIRES, then in MACBETH as the titular character, and then last year as Alexander from the house of Stuart in THE SPANISH PRINCESS series over at Starz where he visited the Tudor court of Henry VIII. This year we should see him next to Collin Farrell in BBC's period set series THE NORTH WATER about a 19th century whaling expedition to the Arctic.

POLDARK'S MAX BENNETT

Max will be evil Cesare Borgia in Leonardo

Although you probably remember this magnetic Londoner mostly from POLDARK in which he played the villainous Monk Adderley, Max Bennett also starred in THE DUTCHESS movie as Lord Walter, in ANNA KARENINA as Petritsky, in HOLLOW CROWN historical saga as John Talbot, then in WILL 16th century series on young Shakespeare in which he was Robert  Southwell. If you are currently missing him on the small screens, do not despair as he is returning in LEONARDO medieval drama. In  the series in which Aidan Turner plays Leonardo da Vinci, Max will be no one else but Cesare Borgia the most dangerous of all the evil Borgias!

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.

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!