1ST LOOK AT HOUSE OF THE DRAGONS, JULIA, WESTWORLD FINAL SEASON & OTHERS IN HBO 2022 PROMO TRAILER! SEE 1ST LOOK AT AMAZON/BBC SERIES LIFE AFTER LIFE WITH JAMES MCARDLE, SIAN CLIFFORD

  2022 ON HBO MAX  

SEE IT ALL IN THEIR TRAILER

HBO Max has announced everything that is coming up to the streamer next year in a trailer highlighting their new TV shows and if you watch

The House of Dragons will air next year at HBO

carefully you will see glimpses of some of historical, epic and fantasy shows as well. The trailer includes first clips from THE HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

Olivia Cooke will be one of the House of Dragons members

Game of Thrones epic series spin off, GILDED AGE 19th century New York set drama coming up January, and also first looks at the second season of RAISED BY WOLVES fantasy series and the fourth and the final season of

Sarah Lancashire as Julia Child in new mini series

WESTWORLD. You can also see first look of Sarah Lancashire as JULIA Child in new mini TV series on the legendary cook and also first scenes from

Aaron Paul returns in the final season of Westworld

THE STAIRCASE true story drama starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette. They also reveal first peek at THE NEVERS sf adventure series first season part two.

  

 LIFE AFTER LIFE SERIES 

FIRST LOOK COMING FROM BBC

Speaking of first looks, check out first two photos from Amazon and BBC One's four part series LIFE AFTER LIFE in which Thomasin McKenzie plays Ursula Todd, who is born to Sylvie and Hugh (Sian Clifford and James McArdle) one night in 1910, but dies before she draws

Thomasin McKenzie leads the cast in Life After Life

her first breath. On that same night in 1910, Ursula is reborn and survives. Time and time again, living and dying in different circumstances, Ursula is reborn into a new, alternative iteration of life once more. This compelling story follows Ursula as she navigates each new life, through a critical era

Life After Life will be a four part mini series

which spans two world wars, an encounter with Hitler and major life events. But what is it that Ursula so desperately needs to stay alive for? Can a perfect life ever be lived? Can the course of history ever be changed? Can Ursula save the world?

CAST REVEAL AND 1ST PHOTOS FROM NEW EPIC TV SHOW ON AUSTRIAN EMPRESS SISI! THE NEVERS VICTORIAN TV SERIES TRAILER WITH JAMES NORTON, TOM RILEY, BEN CHAPLIN, OLIVIA WILLIAMS, ELEANOR TOMLINSON

  SISI EPIC TV SERIES  

CAST & 1ST PHOTOS UNVEILED

A year ago your trusted spy informed you about a new German series on their most famous empress and now we have the first photos from SISI epic

Dominique Davenport is playing Empress Sisi

saga which will air at the end of the year as a collaboration between TVNOW and our favourite Beta Film. 

  SISI 

 described in three words - desire, power, vulnerability -  takes a look at the life of a young woman who made history as an empress and became a legend as a movie character! It's the love story of two young people, between personal desire and political constraints, between power and vulnerability! Elisabeth of Austria Hungary (played by newcomer Dominique Devenport), named Sisi, who was known as ′′ the most beautiful woman in Europe ′′ and defied the rigid courteous practices and unscrupulous monarch

The series will arrive to the small screens later this year

Franz Joseph I. (embodied in the series by Jannik Schümann), who had to bear the burden of the crown and found an unusual ally in Sisi! There are, by

Jannik Schuman is Franz Joseph emperor of Austria and Hungary

the way, at least three new projects on Sisi currently in production, beside this one, including a movie version Sisi and I with Susanne Wolff.

 

  THE NEVERS TRAILER  

 SEE VICTORIAN SUPERHEROES

The series will first arrive to HBO in April

Sky has, meanwhile, unveiled a longer trailer and poster for their Victorian TV series THE NEVERS which will debut May 17th on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW.  The six episode second part of the first season will air later this year. 

 

   August, 1896. Victorian London is rocked to its foundations by a supernatural event which gives certain people - mostly women - abnormal abilities, from the wondrous to the disturbing. But no matter their particular “turns,” all who belong to this new underclass are in grave danger. It falls to mysterious, quick fisted widow Amalia True (Laura

Our dear James Norton is a dandy aristocrat in the series

Donnelly) and brilliant young inventor Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) to protect and shelter these gifted “orphans.” To do so, they will have to face the

Tom Riley also stars in the new series

brutal forces determined to annihilate their kind. Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Eleanor Tomlinson, Nick Frost and Ben Chaplin lead the cast. Check out the trailer below:

VICTORIAN LADIES ARE VERY DANGEROUS IN THE NEVERS FANTASY SERIES TEASER! AMAZON TURNING HOHLBEIN'S FANTASY CLASSIC THE GRYPHON INTO EPIC TV SERIES

 THE GRYPHON TO BECOME 

AMAZON'S FANTASY TV SERIES

The Gryphon will be a six episode series

After the success Netflix had with Barbarians, Amazon is looking to find their own German hit series, so they are adapting Wolfgang's Hohlbein's popular novel THE GRYPHON (Der Grif) into a six episode show with Erol Yesilkaya and Sebastian Marka as show runners. On their way to adulthood, the three outsiders Mark, Memo and Becky come into contact with a fantastic world called the Black Tower. There, the Griffin, a world devouring monster, has been mercilessly plundering and subjugating all living creatures for centuries. And the three friends, of all people, seem destined to end this reign of terror. As you probably remember, his Hagen von Tronje historical novel has also been set for adaptation. 

 THE NEVERS EPIC SERIES 

FIRST TEASER REVEALED

HBO has released a teaser for their new fantasy series THE NEVERS which will arrive this April. In the last years of Victoria’s reign, London is beset by the 'Touched' people, mostly women, who suddenly manifest

The first part of the first season will air April in six episodes

abnormal abilities, some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly), a brilliant young inventor. They are the

Laura Donnelly is leading the cast as Amalia

champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of… well, pretty much all the forces - to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place. James Norton, Tom Riley,

Ann Skelly is portraying a Victorian inventor

Olivia Williams, Nick Frost and Ben Chaplin also star. After Joss Whedon was kicked out of the series, Philippa Goslett became the new

Our dearest James Norton is lord Hugo Swan in the series

show runner and she is currently working on the rest of the episodes of the first season which will join these six finished at a later date.

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.

JAMES NORTON, TOM RILEY, BEN CHAPLIN, ELEANOR TOMLINSON, OLIVIA WILLIAMS TO LEAD JOSS WHEDON'S VICTORIAN SF SERIES THE NEVERS FOR HBO

    'THE NEVERS' FANTASY SAGA

CASTS VICTORIAN LADIES AND GENTS WITH SUPER POWERS

James Norton is Lord Hugo Swann

Earlier this week HBO has revealed the main cast for their new period set science fiction series THE NEVERS which will be headlined by two of our favourite British boys War and Peace's James Norton and Davinci's Demons' Tom Riley. Coming from Firefly and Avengers creator Joss Whedon, who will write it, direct it and produce it, it will be an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women called The Touched, who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world. Here's the cast:

Laura Donnelly will be Amalia True, the most reckless, impulsive, emotionally damaged hero of her time. A menace to stuffy Victorian society,

Tom Riley is Lord Augustus Bidlow

she would die for the cause and kill for a drink.

Olivia Williams is Lavinia Bidlow, a wealthy spinster and champion of the “Touched”,who funds the Orphanage (where Amalia and many of the Touched live) through her vast family fortune. She is stern and old fashioned, but as strong willed and clever as anyone she confronts.

James Norton is Hugo Swan, a pansexual posh boy whose charm has about five years left on its lease. He runs a secret club and a side trade in blackmail. He’s devoted to fulfilling everyone’s worst impression of him – and fascinated by the Touched.

Tom Riley is Augustus “Augie” Bidlow, a sweet, disarming nerd and Lavinia’s younger brother. A keen ornithologist, Augie is happy to let his older sister

Eleanor Tomlinson is Mary Brighton

take the reins of the family fortune. He finds the Touched unnerving, but is drawn to them by his increasing infatuation with Miss Adair, and by the schemes of his nefarious best friend, Hugo.

Ann Skelly is Penance Adair, Amalia’s dearest friend, and one of the first women to join her cause, a devout, yet heretically progressive, Irish girl, who has genius for invention. She is delighted by her power, and her default is love and acceptance. But she’s firm in her moral sense, and will be guided by what’s right over what’s expedient every time.

Ben Chaplin is Detective Frank Mundi, gruff, and deeply moral, he trusts no one, least of all himself: his reputation for sudden violence (and excessive drink) is not unwarranted. Frank finds

Laura Donnelly is Amalia True, the main protagonist!

himself caught between the powerful, who ignore the the laws of the land, and newly empowered, who ignore the laws of physics.

Death and Nightingales' Ann Skelley is Penance Adair

Poldark star Pip Torrens is Lord Massen – Staunch, unflappable and merciless in his defense of the British Empire, this former General, now Peer, may be the only man who sees clearly what havoc these few strange people can wreak upon the established order. Which he will protect, one way or another.

Nick Frost is Declan Orrun, aka The Beggar King, charismatic and brutal, he runs – or has a piece of – most of the low level criminal activity in the city. He’s perfectly happy to help Amalia  – and equally happy to sell them out. He backs winners, and the Touched are long odds.

 Rochelle Neil is Annie Carbey, aka Bonfire, a career criminal who landed the ability to control fire and is happy to hire it out. Came up rough, stayed

Olivia Williams is the funder of the Touched, Lady Lavinia Bidlow

that way, but she’s neither impulsive nor cruel just looking out for herself. No matter who she works with or for, Annie trusts only Annie, and the fire.

Ben Chaplin is gruff detective Frank Mundi!

Eleanor Tomlinson is Mary Brighton, gentle but surprisingly resilient, she pursued her dream of singing on stage. A disappointing career and a broken engagement haven’t diminished her spirit. She’s going to be great. She’s going to be very surprised how.

Rochelle Neil will portray firethrowing Bonfire Annie Carbey

Denis O’Hare is Dr. Edmund Hague, a gifted American surgeon who uses his skills in the coldest, most brutal way possible. But it’s all in the name of progress!