Sky has announced Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle as leads in their new thriller TV series PRISONER which will also star our dearest Laurie Davidson, Eddie Marsan, Catherine McCormack, Finn Bennett, in a story that will follow a principled young prison officer escorting a dangerous, high-value prisoner to court to testify against his elite crime syndicate. Throughout the journey, their relationship twists and turns, with the stakes escalating as the crime syndicate stops at nothing to track them down. Otto Bathurst is directing.
THE BURBS SERIES AT PEACOCK
Meanwhile, Peacock has unveiled full cast for their dark comedy series THE BURBS which, set in present-day suburbia, follows a young couple (Keke Palmer, Jack Whitehall) who have reluctantly relocated to the husband’s childhood home. Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood. Julia Duffy, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch and our sweet Kapil Talwalkar will also star.
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.
After the insane success of Turkish historical series The Magnificent Century on sultan Suleyman and his wife Hurem, which was feverishly adored in Arabic countries, the Balkans and Eastern Europe, Russia has been trying to create their own historical drama which would repeat similar success, but they weren't overly successful even though their own shows on Catherine the Great, Golden Horde and Boris Godunov had nice ratings. Now they've decided to set one of the new series directly in the dark Ottoman empire and we can expect a lavish new 12 episode
Ilya Malakov, right, plays the title role of the Russian prisoner
television series THE PRISONER (Русский пленник) to arrive to the small screens via Russia's national broadcaster sometime later this year. Beside our
Serbian actor Ivan Bosiljcic is sultan Mehmed
dearest Ilya Malakov (whom you remember from their historical movie Kolovrat or Furious) in the lead role, the cast also includes actors from Serbia
Maya Tzetzhladze is sultana Safiya in the new series
making it a panslavic project. The shooting started back in the summer of 2019 so it was a very long production process. The story is set at the end of the
Serbian actress Milena Radulovic is Zuleika in the series
15th and the beginning of the 16th century so beside the infamous Turkish sultan Mehmed the Conqueror (Serbian actor Ivan Bosiljcic), the series will
The series will have scenes set in the harem of the Turkish sultan
also include Russian tzars Fedor Ivanovich (Vladimir Koshevoi) and Boris Godunov (Artur Ivanov). Samvel Tadevosian, controversial Serbian
Vladimir Koshevoy is Russian tzar Fedor, son of Ivan the Terrible
actress Milena Radulovic, Arina Zharkova, Richard Lepers also star. Ivan Shurhovetzkiy, who helmed Kolovrat, is also directing this one. A whole city was built in Turkey for the needs of the production.
THE STORY OF THE PRISONER
Alekha (Ilya Malakov) is 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
The series was shot in Turkey and Russia in 2019
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
Prisoners underwent a very harsh treatment to become Janissaries
Empire. Here the Russian is taken prisoner and sent to become one of the evil Jannisaries (sultan's elite squads made from the children and prisoners taken
Alekha will be trying to return to his love in Russia
from the enslaved regions of the empire). In an instant, not only plans, but also the life of the protagonist goes downhill. The man tries to fight fate, but
A whole historical city was built for the production of the series
the circumstances are stronger. As a result, he becomes an Ottoman prisoner who must serve the hated sultan. Here Alekha will face many trials and
It is expected that the series will be offered to the foreign markets as well
hardships. But during the whole journey, he does not give up on the feeling that one day he will return home - to his native land. In parallel, he finds the
Thousands of authentic costumes were made for the series
love of his life. But even here difficult tests await him. But for a real Cossack there are no barriers when he loves. He is ready to give his life for his beloved,
Jannisaries in the line in front of the grand vizier of the empire
because in a true Cossack, love for a woman is equated with love for the Motherland. Check out the annoucement clip below and tell us what you think:
high-value prisoner to court to testify against his elite crime syndicate. Throughout the journey, their relationship twists and turns, with the stakes escalating as the crime syndicate stops at nothing to track them down. Otto Bathurst is directing. 
high-value prisoner to court to testify against his elite crime syndicate. Throughout the journey, their relationship twists and turns, with the stakes escalating as the crime syndicate stops at nothing to track them down. Otto Bathurst is directing. 
the husband’s childhood home. Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood. Julia Duffy, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch and our sweet Kapil Talwalkar will also star. 
the husband’s childhood home. Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood. Julia Duffy, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch and our sweet Kapil Talwalkar will also star. 
