HISTORY'S BIGGEST BITCH IS BACK IN SERPENT QUEEN SEASON TWO HISTORICAL SERIES TRAILER WITH SAMANTHA MORTON AS CATHERINE DE MEDICI QUEEN OF FRANCE

   THE SERPENT QUEEN   

SEE THE FIRST TRAILER FOR SEASON TWO

Starz is just about ready to launch the second season of their epic series THE SERPENT QUEEN  which arrives July 12th telling the story of Catherine de Medici (Samantha Morton) who, against all odds,

The Bitch is back this July to Starz

became one of the most powerful and longest serving rulers in French history. The original bad bitch is back says the first trailer which you can check out below the post! It will also stream on Stan in Australia next winter.

 

IN THE SECOND SEASON OF THE SERIES

  Bill Milner joins as King Charles IX the oldest son of Catherine de Medici, and the now King of France. Not a boy, but not quite a man, he is anxious to play king and get it right. Minnie Driver is Elizabeth I the infamous Virgin Queen who goes toe-to-toe with Catherine and is a woman of style, wit and experience. Angus Imrie is Henry IV the son of Antoine de Bourbon and Jeanne d’Albret, he appears uncivilized, to the unobservant observer but in reality, he is quite an intellect. Emma McDonald is Rahima who viewers first met in season one and has grown in wit and confidence and now has assumed an important position in Catherine’s life. Stanley Morgan is Anjou the younger brother of King Charles, who is non-conforming and capable of disruptive violence. Philippine Velge is princess Margot Catherine’s eldest daughter, who is her polar opposite. Incredibly charming, liked by all and seeks the truth. Rosalie Craig is Jeanne d’Albret the self-righteous and disapproving wife of Antonie de Bourbon. Isobel Jesper Jones is Edith, a protestant preacher to a group of loyal followers.  Ashley Thomas is Alessandro de Medici a man possessed with great charisma and beauty and is the object of desire. Alexandre Willaume is Montmorency the wise and humorless Constable General of France. He is a loyal and serious servant of the king. Joining Morton in the returning cast are Danny Kirrane, Ray Panthaki, Raza Jaffrey, Enzo Cilenti, Amrita Acharia, Ruby Bentall, Beth Goddard, Ludivine Sagnier, Nicholas Burns, and Rupert Everett.

 

SEE THE FIRST IMAGES AND TEASER FROM SERPENT QUEEN SEASON TWO OF THE HISTORICAL SERIES WITH SAMANTHA MORTON AS CATHERINE DE MEDICI QUEEN OF FRANCE

   THE SERPENT QUEEN   

SEE THE FIRST IMAGES FROM SEASON TWO

Last month we finally got some updates from Starz for the second season of their epic series THE SERPENT QUEEN  and now we also have the first images from the continuation of the intriguing historical story. The second season is coming later this summer telling the story of Catherine de Medici (Samantha Morton) who, against all odds, became one of the most powerful and longest serving rulers in French history. The original bad bitch is back says the first fun teaser which you can check out below the post! It will also stream on Stan in Australia next winter.

 

IN THE SECOND SEASON OF THE SERIES

  Bill Milner joins as King Charles IX the oldest son of Catherine de Medici, and the now King of France. Not a boy, but not quite a man, he is anxious to play king and get it right. Minnie Driver is Elizabeth I the infamous Virgin Queen who goes toe-to-toe with Catherine and is a woman of style, wit and experience. Angus Imrie is Henry IV the son of Antoine de Bourbon and Jeanne d’Albret, he appears uncivilized, to the unobservant observer but in reality, he is quite an intellect. Emma McDonald is Rahima who viewers first met in season one and has grown in wit and confidence and now has assumed an important position in Catherine’s life. Stanley Morgan is Anjou the younger brother of King Charles, who is non-conforming and capable of disruptive violence. Philippine Velge is princess Margot Catherine’s eldest daughter, who is her polar opposite. Incredibly charming, liked by all and seeks the truth. Rosalie Craig is Jeanne d’Albret the self-righteous and disapproving wife of Antonie de Bourbon. Isobel Jesper Jones is Edith, a protestant preacher to a group of loyal followers.  Ashley Thomas is Alessandro de Medici a man possessed with great charisma and beauty and is the object of desire. Alexandre Willaume is Montmorency the wise and humorless Constable General of France. He is a loyal and serious servant of the king. Joining Morton in the returning cast are Danny Kirrane, Ray Panthaki, Raza Jaffrey, Enzo Cilenti, Amrita Acharia, Ruby Bentall, Beth Goddard, Ludivine Sagnier, Nicholas Burns, and Rupert Everett.

 

BILL MILNER IS NEW KING OF FRANCE IN SAMANTHA MORTON'S SERPENT QUEEN EPIC TV SERIES SEASON 2! SEE THE REST OF THE NEW CAST

   THE SERPENT QUEEN   

ADS NEW COURTIERS FOR SEASON TWO

We finally have updates from Starz for the second season of their epic series THE SERPENT QUEEN which is coming later this year telling the story of Catherine de Medici (Samantha Morton) who, against all odds, became one of the most powerful and longest serving rulers in French history. Bill Milner joins as King Charles IX the oldest son of Catherine de Medici, and

Bill Milner is the new king of France

the now King of France. Not a boy, but not quite a man, he is anxious to play king and get it right. Minnie Driver is Elizabeth I the infamous Virgin Queen who goes toe-to-toe with Catherine and is a woman of style, wit and experience. Angus Imrie is Henry IV the son of Antoine de Bourbon and Jeanne d’Albret, he appears uncivilized, to the unobservant observer but in reality, he is quite an intellect. Emma McDonald is Rahima who viewers first met in season one and has grown in wit and confidence and now has assumed an important position in Catherine’s life. Stanley Morgan is Anjou the younger brother of King Charles, who is non-conforming and capable of disruptive violence. Philippine Velge is princess Margot Catherine’s eldest daughter, who is her polar opposite. Incredibly charming, liked by all and seeks the truth. Rosalie Craig is Jeanne d’Albret the self-

Stanley Morgan, Alexandre Willaume and Philippine Velge

righteous and disapproving wife of Antonie de Bourbon. Isobel Jesper Jones is Edith, a protestant preacher to a group of loyal followers.  Ashley Thomas is Alessandro de Medici a man possessed with great charisma and beauty and is the object of desire. Alexandre Willaume is Montmorency the wise and humorless Constable General of France. He is a loyal and serious servant of the king.

PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON STARZ' THE SERPENT QUEEN CATHERINE DE MEDICI EPIC TV SERIES STARTING SEPTEMBER WITH SAMANTHA MORTON! CHECK OUT NEW CHARACTER PHOTOS!

  THE SERPENT QUEEN  

IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BAD 

Serpent Queen bows September 11th

As I already told you before this Autumn will be a season of female rulers when it comes to historical series, and beside the queens from Lord of the Rings series The Rings of Power, Netflix The Empress, French Marie Antoinette and queen Truselda of German tribes in the second season of Barbarians  THE SERPENT QUEEN is probably our most anticipated one. Starz has now given us new lavish photos from this new eight part historical series in which Samantha Morton plays one of the most frightening queens of all times - Catherine de Medici of France! The series will launch Sunday September 11th created by Justin Haythe and based on the 2004 non-fiction book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda. After it finishes, Dangerous Liaisons will take up the Sunday evening prime time premiere historical drama slot at Starz.

 

IF YOU DON'T TEACH YOUR ENEMIES THEIR LESSON, THEY WILL NEVER LEARN

Scheming and cunning, Catherine de Medici was one of the most powerful women in the world. After becoming an orphaned teenager from the famous ruling family of Medici and then marrying into the 16th century French court she is expected to bring a hefty dowry and produce many heirs, but Catherine discovers her husband is already in love with another woman and then, her dowry remains unpaid and she learns she is unable to conceive. But with intelligence and determination, she keeps her marriage alive, mastering the bloodsport of the monarchy and ruling France for 50 years. In THE SERPENT QUEEN, Catherine tells her story through flashbacks, defending her actions and imparting lessons she's learned to her new servant, Rahima (Sennia Nanua). When her uncle Pope Clement (Charles Dance) brokers her marriage and a geopolitical alliance with France, but she learns on her wedding night that her husband is in love with Diane de Poitiers (Ludivine Sagnier), a stunningly beautiful lady-in-waiting who is twice the king-to-be's age. Catherine is thrust into a world where she must learn quickly who she can trust and seek to outmaneuver anyone who underestimates her. The rest of the cast includes Liv Hill as the younger version of Catherine, Antonia Clarke as Catherine's daughter in law Mary Queen of Scots, whom Catherine sent back to Scotland after her son Francis (George Jacques) died and she officially became regent in her own right on behalf of her 10-year-old son Charles IX. She then ruled France for three years by herself until Charles reached his maturity. After Charles died in 1574, Catherine also played a key role in the reign of her third son, Henry III. He outlived her by just seven months. She was generally despised in history seen as enemy by both Catholics and Hugenots and scary to common folks who were afraid of her love for all things occult - her pet astrologer was famous Nostradamus.

WHO ARE THE COURTIERS?

Raza Jaffrey will appear as Duke Francois Guise,the leader of Catholics. Colm Meaney is Catherine's husband king of France. Enzo Cilenti will play Ruggieri, the magician  and soothsayer! Barry Atsma will be famous Montmorency, who cares about the greater good of the society he serves as its foremost military leader. Nicholas Burns portrays Antoine de Bourbon, the rival of Catherine's Valois family. Danny Kirrane is Louis de Bourbon, his stronger willed and more intelligent brother! Memet Ali Alabora will appear as Sultan Suleiman! Adam Garcia will also have a reoccurring role and I think it was him getting quartered in the trailer below. Lee Ingleby is the middle aged Henry and I've heard Rupert Everett will guest star.

 

SAMANTHA MORTON IS DELICIOUSLY RUTHLESS IN SERPENT QUEEN EPIC TV SERIES TRAILER! TRAILER & RELEASE DATE FOR CZECH HISTORICAL HERO JAN ZIZKA EPIC BIOPIC MEDIEVAL WITH BEN FOSTER, MICHAEL CAINE, MATTHEW GOODE, WILLIAM MOSELEY, TIL SCHWEIGER

 SERPENT QUEEN TRAILER 

THE ROYAL VILLAINESS

After those first photos that I showed you last week from THE SERPENT QUEEN series, Starz has just sent us the first epic trailer for the historical series about infamous Catherine de Medici revealing that the series will launch September 11th, much sooner than we expected. Samantha Morton leads the cast portraying the French queen and descendant of the legendary Italian noble family who believed it's safer to be feared than loved especially as life wasn't really kind to her forcing her to become cunning, sly and above all ruthless.

 

 

   FIRST MEDIEVAL  

TRAILER FROM THE CZECH EPIC!

We finally have the first full trailer for new historical adventure MEDIEVAL which sees American actor Ben Foster playing Czech national

Medieval arrives September 8th!

hero and warlord Jan Zizka who was
 a powerful figure in the famous Hussite wars in the medieval times. With the massive budget of about $20 million, the new historical movie was shot on the sets near Prague and around Czech republic. Superhunky Czech actor and judo champion Petr Jakl has both written and directed the movie! He is not the only athlete in the production as legendary Czech decathlon world recorder Roman Sebrle is also in the cast! International theatre release is now scheduled for September 9th when it will hit US cinemas as well with September 8th release in Czech republic.

WHAT'S THE MOVIE ABOUT? 

Ben Foster takes the lead role in the film

MEDIEVAL will follow their 14th century national hero Jan Zizka of Trocnov (Ben Foster), a revered military tactician who defeated armies of the Teutonic Order and the Holy Roman Empire. He is known for his innovative strategies and for quickly training peasants to face skilled and armoured  opponents who usually outnumbered his own troops. The historical adventure film will also have another storyline which will revolve around his relationship with king's lover, a rich heiress Catherine (Sophie Lowe), whom he is sent to save but unexpectedly falls in love with her, while another storyline will describe his fight against a rival king.

The film should be out this September

WHO ELSE IS IN THE CAST?

Our favourite William Moseley plays Jan's brother Jaroslav, legendary Michael Caine is Lord Boresh the right hand of Czech King Wenceslaus and German superstar Til Schweiger is Rosenberg, the richest lord in the kingdom. British thespian Matthew Goode will portray King Sigismund of  Hungary and Croatia, the brother of Czech King Wenceslaus, and if my eyes are not playing with me he will have a blondish hair in the movie! Czech actor Karel Roden is playing King Wenceslaus himself! 

BEHOLD SAMANTHA MORTON AS CATHERINE DE MEDICI AND HER ROYAL COURT IN THE SERPENT QUEEN EPIC TV SERIES LAVISH PHOTOS!

  THE SERPENT QUEEN  

BEHOLD THE COURTIERS!

A couple of weeks ago I brought you an exclusive list of all the period set shows we can expect to arrive to us this Autumn, and beside Lord of the Rings

The series will start September 11th on Starz

series The Rings of Power, THE SERPENT QUEEN is probably our most anticipated one. Starz has now given us first lavish photos from this new

Samantha Morton plays Catherine de Medici herself

eight part historical series in which Samantha Morton plays one of the most frightening queens of all times - Catherine de Medici of France! We can only

Charles Dance is the pope, Catherine's uncle

hope that the show will be better than their last dramas about famous queens - the godawful Spanish Princess and painfully almost atrociously dull Becoming Elizabeth. 

 

WHAT'LL THE SERIES BE ABOUT?

Scheming and cunning, Catherine de Medici was one of the most powerful women in the world. After becoming an orphaned teenager from the famous ruling family of Medici and then marrying into the 16th century

Liv Hill is a rather strange choice for young Catherine

French court she is expected to bring a hefty dowry and produce many heirs, but Catherine discovers her husband is already in love with another woman and then, her dowry remains unpaid and she learns she is unable to conceive. But with intelligence and determination, she keeps her marriage alive,

Diane de Poitiers is strangely ugly in the series for some reason

mastering the bloodsport of the monarchy and ruling France for 50 years. In THE SERPENT QUEEN, Catherine tells her story through flashbacks, defending her actions and imparting lessons she's learned to her new servant, Rahima (Sennia Nanua). When her uncle Pope Clement (Charles Dance)

Mary Queen of Scots and her ladies in waiting

brokers her marriage and a geopolitical alliance with France, but she learns on her wedding night that her husband is in love with Diane de Poitiers (Ludivine Sagnier), a stunningly beautiful lady-in-waiting who is twice the king-to-be's age. Catherine is thrust into a world where she must learn quickly who she can trust and seek to outmaneuver anyone who underestimates her.

Ludivine Sagnier is the strangest choice for Diane de Poitiers

The rest of the cast includes Liv Hill as the younger version of Catherine, Antonia Clarke as Catherine's daughter in law Mary Queen of Scots, whom Catherine sent back to Scotland after her son Francis (George Jacques) died and she officially became regent in her own right on behalf of her 10-year-old son Charles IX. She then ruled France for three years by herself until Charles

Liv Hill as the rather unattractive and dull young Catherine

reached his maturity. After Charles died in 1574, Catherine also played a key role in the reign of her third son, Henry III. He outlived her by just seven months. She was generally despised in history seen as enemy by both Catholics and Hugenots and scary to common folks who were afraid of her love for all things occult - her pet astrologer was famous Nostradamus.

WHO ARE THE COURTIERS?

Raza Jaffrey will appear as Duke Francois Guise,the leader of Catholics. Colm Meaney is Catherine's husband king of France. Enzo Cilenti will play Ruggieri, the magician  and soothsayer! Barry Atsma will be famous Montmorency, who cares about the greater good of the society he serves as its

Senia Nanua is Catherine's servant Rahima

foremost military leader. Nicholas Burns portrays Antoine de Bourbon, the rival of Catherine's Valois family. Danny Kirrane is Louis de Bourbon, his stronger willed and more intelligent brother! Memet Ali Alabora will appear as Sultan Suleiman! Adam Garcia will probably be Nostradamus but that is just my guess.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S SPOTLIGHT ON BEST PERIOD SET AND EPIC SERIES ARRIVING THIS AUTUMN: FROM BRITAIN, GERMANY AND FRANCE, TO ITALY, AUSTRIA AND FANTASY WORLDS OF TOLKIEN

 AUTUMN 2022 EPIC SHOWS 

THE RINGS OF POWER

The biggest series event of the year if not the whole decade will be the September 2nd premiere of the most expensive series ever made LORD OF THE RINGS: RINGS OF POWER over at Amazon Prime Video. The eight episode first season is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. In today's exclusive photos you can see Benjamin Walker as Elven king Gil-Galad.

MARIE ANTOINETTE

Over at French Canal + and BBC after Versailles, we can expect MARIE ANTOINETTE series later this year. The eight part series, starring Emilia Schule in the lead role follows the famed queen Marie Antoinette, who was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. James Purefoy also stars with Louis Cunningham as King Louis XVI! 

TOM JONES

After a very long wait, we can also expect that the Autumn will bring us the four part adaptation of Henry Fielding's TOM JONES over at ITV, a picaresque story of the title character’s complicated journey to find real love, which has delighted and scandalized readers since it was originally published in 1749. The raunchy novel follows often very scandalous and bawdy sexual exploits and merry adventures of the young and good hearted 18th century foundling Tom Jones in a story full of twists and surprises. Solly McLeod takes the lead.

SERPENT QUEEN

Although most of the costume drama is coming from Europe, America has one in their sleeve too: Autumn is also bringing SERPENT QUEEN to Starz. Starring Samantha Morton (another exclusive photo today for you) the eight part saga will portray the Italian noblewoman and queen of France Catherine de Medici, married to King Henry II and mother of kings Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. She had huge influence in France during the 16th century. 

THE EMPRESS

Earlier this summer I showed you the first teaser for Netflix German epic saga THE EMPRESS which arrives September 29th. The series will depict Austrian empress Sisi’s life from her teenage years onwards, when she first met Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria Hungary, and Devrim Lingnau and Philip Froissant will play the imperial couple. When the rebellious Elisabeth meets Franz, the Emperor of Austria, in 1853 the young couple's intoxicating love completely upsets the power structure at the Viennese court.

 

BARBARIANS

Also arriving to Netflix this Autumn is the second season of Germany's historical series BARBARIANS in which Jeanne Goursaud, Laurence Rupp and David Schütter return as Arminius, Thusnelda and Folkwin who managed to kick Romans out of Germania. The second season will send them on a new adventure of love, friendship and betrayal.

 

LIDIA POET

Also streaming on Netflix this Autumn, but arriving from Italy is historical series LIDIA POET with Matilda de Angelis in the title role of the series which reconstructs the true story of the Italian woman who in late 19th century Turin fought a legal battle to be allowed to practice as a lawyer after she was forbidden to do so by a court order. She became Italy’s first female lawyer. Romulus helmer Matteo Rovere is directing. 

 

1899

Netflix is also ready to give us some period set horror thrills in their new series 1899 which revolves around a migrant steamship heading west to leave the old continent from London to New York. The passengers, a mixed bag of European origins, are united by their hopes and dreams for the new century and their future abroad. When they discover another migrant ship adrift on open sea, their journey takes an unexpected turn. What they find on board will turn their passage to the promised land into a horrifying nightmare.

 

WILLOW

Disney Plus has set November 30th start date for their new epic series WILLOW in which Warwick Davis is reprising his movie role of Willow Ufgood in a story of a child destined to bean empress, and the unlikely hero who would protect her. Ellie Bamber also stars in this film set in a magical world where sorcerers, trolls, and other mystical creatures flourish, and where the adventure continues, as an unlikely group of heroes sets off on a dangerous quest to places far beyond their home, where they must face their inner demons and come together to save their world.

 

SAS: ROGUE HEROES

BBC is bringing us their new period set series SAS: ROGUE HEROES starring Connor Swindells, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Allen, alongside Dominic West and Sofia Boutella. The six part drama is the dramatised

SAS: Rogue Heroes will air sometime next year on BBC

account of how the world’s greatest Specia lForces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two. 

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

AMC Plus will air a TV series adaptation of Anne Rice's vampire saga INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE with Sam Reid as Lestat de Lioncourt and Jacob Anderson as Louis. The story follows an 18th century Lord, Louis, as he recounts his story and tumultuous relationship with his maker – Lestat – to an eager interviewer and biographer. After he was turned into a vampire by Lestat in 1790s in New Orleans, they developed a love-hate relationship over the centuries!