PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON MARIE ANTOINETTE HISTORICAL TV SERIES STARTING NEXT WEEK WITH EMILIA SCHULE AND JAMES PUREFOY IN THE ROYAL CAST

 MARIE ANTOINETTE TV SERIES 

STARTS JUST IN A WEEK!

The series starts next week in France

After our visit to the royal mistress Diane de Poitiers and then to The Three Musketeers, we are finishing our glorious French week with her royal majesty MARIE ANTOINETTE who has just left the imperial palace Schonbrunn in Vienna and is off to join the royal court in Paris where she is expected to arrive October 31st with new historical series which will air on Canal + and then on BBC 2 in United Kingdom later this year and BBC First in Australia basically almost everywhere where Versailles aired as well. The good news for all you Americans is that the series has been sold to PBS for airing next March. The 8 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. Louis Cunningham stars as the dauphin and the future King Louis XVI and James Purefoy as his father Louis XV who at some point tried to have sex with his new daughter in law! The scandal!  Marthe Keller, Jack Archer, Jasmine Blackborow, Gaia Weiss as the king's favourite and professional whore Madame du Barry with whom Marie did not get on well, Crystal Sheperd, Caroline Piette, Oscar Lesage, Roxane Duran, Liah O’Prey, Jonas Bloquet, Nathan Willcocks, Laura Benson, Nicola Perot, Paul Bandey, Maximilien Seweryn also star in the international cast.

 

  MARIE ANTOINETTE 

was barely 14 years old when she left Austria and her mother empress Maria Theresa to marry the Dauphin in France. She is still a stubborn and dissipated young child who must comply with French rules, which are numerous and complicated. The young princess quickly suffers from not being able to live her life as she sees fit. She is constantly under pressure to carry on the Bourbon line. A mission more complicated than expected: even if the relationship between Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI improves over time, it will take them seven years to consummate their marriage. From the young runner-up to the queen of style, a true fashion icon, Marie Antoinette quickly impresses with her charisma and naturalness. She will gradually understand the codes and secrets of the French court and completely recreate Versailles in her image! But her success stirs up jealousy and rivalry. Defamatory pamphlets and persistent rumors about her private life undermine her reputation. It will take a lot of courage to defeat her numerous enemies at the Versailles court.

  

 THE STORY BEHIND THE SET

Given that the show has been written by an all female team you can expect a feminist agenda stuffed into the times where they did not know an F about Feminism. The 1770s set show was shot in authentic historical locations including the chateau of Versailles from which Marie went on to have her wigged head chop chopped after advising the starving masses to eat some cake if they don't have bread. Of course, the show will depict such a person as not frivolous but strong, empowering, emancipated and independent. I know, I know, I am laughing too... or maybe I am crying. What is known to be true is that she did break down the etiquette established by Louis XIV whom we watched in Versailles series created by the same team as the new series. The court will also include Joseph Bologne de Saint-George, a Creole virtuoso violinist and conductor who was part of Marie-Antoinette’s entourage and who is soon getting his own movie. The series was shot on the sets that took more than two months to built and with the crew that had almost 800 people! The second  season is already being written!

DIVA TV SERIES ON 17TH CENTURY OPERA SINGER JULIE MAUPIN SET AT LOUIS XIV COURT AT VERSAILLES IN WORKS! TCHAIKOVSKY'S WIFE COSTUME DRAMA ON FAMOUS RUSSIAN COMPOSER

  DIVA PERIOD SET SERIES ON 

17TH CENTURY'S JULIE MAUPIN

Beside Chevalier movie drama about a son of an African slave who became a famous composer and violinist at the court of Marie Antoinette, we can expect another project about a great musician at the French court. Max

Diva does not have a broadcaster yet

Benitz is set to write DIVA period set television series with Ed Glauser and Michael Shyjka as executive producers. With the story set at Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles, DIVA tells of an impoverished servant in 1680s France who battles rogues and royalty in her quest to conquer the stage, finding fame, fortune and love along the way. Notorious French opera singer Julie Maupin, known as Mademoiselle Maupin, was a mysterious real life figure who has had numerous works of fiction written about her. She was a rock star and a celebrity before those terms existed. A young woman determined to escape her abusive upbringing and secure her independence and freedom, she rebels against her family and flouts every rule, striving to live and love the way she chooses.

 TCHAIKOVSKY'S WIFE 

PERIOD SET MOVIE IN WORKS

Over in good old Russia, helmer Kirill Serebrennikov is preparing TCHAIKOVSKY'S WIFE movie about the tumultuous relationship between Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the most famous Russian composer of all time, and his

Odin Biron plays the title role of the composer's wife

wife Antonina Miliukova. Set in 19th century Russia, the movie portrays Miliukova, a beautiful and bright young woman who became obsessed with Tchaikovsky after listening to his music for the first time. The composer will finally accept their union but once married, he will be blaming her for his

The film abounds in full frontal male nudity, there is tons of it

misfortunes and breakdowns, and will try to get rid of her in every possible way. Miliukova, meanwhile, decides to endure and to do whatever it takes not to divorce him. Humiliated, disgraced and discarded, she slowly slips into madness. The movie is filled with extreme full frontal male nudity in lots of scenes.

ROYAL SPOTLIGHT ON THE FINAL SEASON OF 'VERSAILLES' EPIC TV SERIES WITH GEORGE BLAGDEN, ALEXANDER VLAHOS! CHARACTER PHOTOS!

'VERSAILLES' FINAL SEASON 

FAREWELL TO FRENCH COURT!

It's the saddest and the happiest of news, spylings! New season of French English language epic saga VERSAILLES is finally arriving to Canal + next

The third and also final season arrives tomorrow in France!

week, Monday, April 23rd, but it is, alas, the final season as well! After three years, Louis XIV's royal court is closing its gates on us. I can't say I didn't

George Blagden is again King Louis XIV the Sun King of France

predict it, although fun at times, the series never really became an opulent historical saga it could have been, opting to fill its second season with

The final season will see Louis becoming a crazy absolutist.

mediocre court intrigues, unnecessary mysticism and lack of dynamics and splendour turning it into a doomed snoozefest which tried to save its ratings

Judging from the photos the final season will be more opulent!

with full naked ladies. Hope the third season finishes the whole affair in a dignified style! The final season arrives on Ovation in USA in October and June 4th in UK on BBC2.

THE END OF A REIGN, THE BEGINNING OF A LEGEND
Louis has settled the Poison Affair and won the war against Holland. Nothing seems to be able to thwart his ambitions: to expand his empire and impose his

Royal brothers Philippe and Louis will meet another brother under Iron Mask?

power on the whole of Europe. But his dreams have a cost, the people are tired of paying and revolts are roaring... At VERSAILLES too, new challenges

Rory Keenan stars as Holy Roman Emperor Leopold

await Louis. Maintenon, his new favorite, leads him into an absolutist assertion which is not without causing considerable dissension in the Court.

Matthew McNulty, who is no stranger to Epic series, is new cast member

Gradually, Louis no longer tolerates any dissent, be it his people, Protestants, or the Pope himself. Yet a threat hangs over Louis, in the form of a mysterious prisoner concealed behind a mask ...

KING LOUIS XIV OF FRANCE

Played by George Blagden. Between the arrival of Leopold, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and that of Cardinal Leto, representing the Vatican, Louis is largely occupied by the control of Europe, while in Paris, the people are becoming irritated by taxes.

DUKE PHILIPPE D'ORLEANS

King's brother is played by Alexander Vlahos. He tries to unravel the mystery of a masked man, The Iron Mask, whose existence threatens the very foundations of the Monarchy. His secret could question the legitimacy of Louis and Philippe. Who is he ? How to silence it?

QUEEN MARIE THERESE

Louis' wife is played by Elisa Lasowski. Sister-in-law of Emperor Leopold, Marie Thérèse succumbs to his charms and goes to support her lover rather than her husband. A very dangerous game.

 FABIEN MARCHAL

The king's security expert is played by amazing Tygh Runyan. Fabien's loyalty will be put to the test. He's troubled by Sophie's return to Versailles.

MADAME DE MAINTENON

King's new lover is played by Catherine Walker. After the dismissal of slutty Madame de Montespan's from the court, Maintenon became Louis's favorite. But despite the many solicitations of the King, she refuses him.

PRINCESS PALATINE

Duchess of Orleans is played by Jessica Clark. A fierce opponent of Maintenon, who removed her newborn baby to send her to royal nurseries in Paris, she will contribute to the reconciliation of Philippe and his idiotic and egotistic lover Chevalier (played by Evan Williams above) and finally reform their scandalous “ménage à trois”. 

JAVIER BARDEM TO LEAD STEVEN SPIELBERG'S AND AMAZON'S EPIC MINI SERIES ON CONQUISTADOR HERNAN 'CORTES'! 'VERSAILLES' EPIC SERIES TEASER SHOWS THE MAN UNDER THE MASK!

  'CORTES' EPIC TV SERIES

JAVIER BARDEM AND SPIELBERG!

Javier Bardem will play Hernan Cortes

After a whole bunch of amazing new epic TV series that I announced yesterday, here's another one, equally brilliant: Amazon has greenlit four episode mini series CORTES coming from Steven Spielberg's production house based on a half a century old script rewritten by Steven Zaillian who got an Oscar for Schlinder's List! Javier Bardem will take the lead role in the epic saga about the infamous conqueror, Hernan CORTES who, some 500 years ago, led a rebellious expedition to the heart of King Montezuma II’s Aztec empire, connecting two civilizations for the first time and changing the course of history. The producers promise a saga filled with drama and adventure. Cortes was celebrated in Europe as someone who expanded Spanish Empire and viewed as genocidal psycho by Aztec tribes who ended one of the greatest civilizations of that time. About five years ago the spy informed you that Scorsese also planned to make a project on Cortes with Benicio del Toro. 

  'VERSAILLES' 

NEW TEASER IS HERE!

Meanwhile, new teaser has been released for George Blagden's King Louis XIV epic TV saga VERSAILLES which returns to Canal + this spring (April 23rd in France to be precise, we don't know UK airing on BBC2) with 

The third season will sadly be the final one as well

third season (it will air in USA on Ovation October 3rd) which will also be the final season! The new teaser shows Louis' brother Duke of Orleans, played by

We are still waiting for Canal + to announce French airing date

Alexander Vlahos, discovering a dungeon with the man under the mask from the famous 17th century legend of Louis' hidden twin brother. 

STUNNING POSTER FOR 3RD & FINAL SEASON OF EPIC SAGA 'VERSAILLES' WITH GEORGE BLAGDEN, ALEXANDER VLAHOS! 'ADRIFT' TRAILER WITH SHIPWRECKED SAM CLAFLIN, SHAILENE WOODLEY! MIRA NAIR TO HELM BBC'S INDIAN PERIOD SET 'A SUITABLE BOY' SERIES!

  'VERSAILLES' 

FINAL SEASON POSTER IS HERE!

Both great and sad news people coming from George Blagden's King Louis XIV royal court: French epic TV saga VERSAILLES returns to Canal + March 27th with the third season (it will air in USA on Ovation October 3rd)

The third season will sadly be the final one as well

but as Alexander Vlahos, who plays his brother Duke of Orleans, has confirmed today - it will also be the final season! You can check out the magnificent first poster today and stay tuned for the first trailer!

@VersaillesCANAL, @canalplus. pic.twitter.com/M42AyQvlHN

— March 20, 2018

  'A SUITABLE BOY' 

MIRA NAIR TO HELM BBC SAGA

Award winning director Mira Nair has been hired by BBC to helm the eight part TV series adaptation of period set novel A SUITABLE BOY by Vikram

The mini series will be shot in eight episodes

Seth. Set in the 1950s, it follows a young woman’s search for love and identity in a newly independent India. Lata is growing up in northern India in 1951. Her mother is determined to find her a husband, but after her sister’s arranged marriage, Lata is not convinced she wants the same path. Torn between duty to her family and the excitement of romance, Lata embarks on an epic journey of love, desire and heartache as three very different suitors vie for her hand. Her choice will play out against the tumultuous political backdrop of India at a crossroads, looking towards its first independent general election and carving out its own destiny.

  'ADRIFT' TRAILER

STARRING SAM CLAFIN AND SHAILENE WOODLEY

Thrilling first trailer has been released for Sam Claflin and Shailene Woodley movie ADRIFT based on the true story of two avid sailors who set out on a journey across the ocean in 1983. Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp

The movie hits theatres in Europe this June

didn't anticipate they would be sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. In the aftermath of the storm,

Sam Claflin will again played an immobile man

Tami awakens to find Richard badly injured and their boat in ruins, and must find the strength and determination to save herself and the only man she has ever loved.

MATTHEW MCNULTY TO JOIN 'VERSAILLES' EPIC TV SERIES SEASON 3! SOPHIE TURNER TO SURVIVE AN AIRPLANE CRASH IN 'GIRL WHO FELL FROM THE SKY'

  MATTHEW MCNULTY

JOINS 'VERSAILLES' SEASON 3!

While the Americans are currently watching the second season (which aired here in Europe earlier last spring), at Ovation, VERSA ILLES has already  

McNulty was the star of The Mill period set drama

finished production on the third season of the mega popular English language French series and the news is that Matthew McNulty has joined the cast (that will again include George Blagden as King Louis and Alexander Vlahos as his brother Duke of Orleans), as a character named Guillaume. New season brings new challenges to Louis, who will carry forward his ambitions both at home and abroad, but a new threat lies about him, a mysterious prisoner hiding behind a mask! We're also waiting for the first trailer for another new epic series in which McNulty stars - Arctic thriller The Terror over at AMC. 

  SOPHIE TURNER IS

'GIRL WHO FELL FROM THE SKY' 
Meanwhile, another face from period set sagas - Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner will star in the movie adaptation of GIRL WHO FELL FROM THE SKY based on a book by Juliane Koepcke. As 'Deadline' reports, she will

Sophie Turner will spend 11 days in the jungle

play Koepcke, a high school senior and the sole survivor of the December 24, 1971 crash of LANSA Flight 508 in the Peruvian rain forest. The 17 year old was on a Christmas Eve flight with her mother, to join her father for Christmas, when the Lockheed L-188A Electra en route from Lima to Pucallpa flew directly into a thunderstorm and was struck by lightning. The plane was incinerated; Koepcke was ejected, still belted to her seat. She fell 10,000 feet, almost two miles through the air, before the canopy of the Amazon rain forest broke her fall and miraculously saved her life. From there, the teenager struggled to survive an 11-day ordeal, navigating through the treacherous jungles to be rescued.

'VERSAILLES' SEASON 3 STARTS SHOOTING, PLOT REVEALED! FULLY EPIC FINAL 'WONDER WOMAN' TRAILER IS HERE! NEW 'LADY MACBETH' PERIOD SET MOVIE POSTER RELEASED!

  'VERSAILLES' SEASON 3

STARTS FILMING IN FRANCE

It has finished airing its second season in homeland France, it is currently airing on BBC2 in UK and will hit USA in Autumn, but the third season of popular period set series VERSAILLES has already started its 5 months production in France.

George Blagden returns as King Louis who has solved the mystery of the poisoning and has won the war against Holland. It seems nothing can now stop his ambitions: to extend his empire and impose his power on the whole of Europe. But his dreams have a cost, the people are tired of paying and the revolt rumbles... At VERSAILLES too, new challenges await Louis. Maintenon, his new favorite, draws him towards absolutism which causes considerable dissension at the Court. Gradually, Louis no longer tolerates any dissent, whether from his people, the Protestants, or the Pope himself. However, a threat hangs over Louis, in the form of a mysterious prisoner concealed behind a mask ...

  'LADY MACBETH' 

 GETS A BRAND NEW POSTER

A new poster, with rather lovely colours, has been released for period set movie LADY MACBETH which played at festivals around the world and will hit UK and US cinemas in June and July. In this adaptation of Nikolai Leskov's novella Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk, Florence Pugh plays a 19th century young bride who is sold into marriage to a middle-aged man.

  FINAL 'WONDER WOMAN' 

TRAILER IS EPICALLY EPIC!

In the trailer department, check out the final, utterly epic and positively terrific trailer for WONDER WOMAN titled Rise of the Warrior!  Starring Gal Gadot in the lead role it comes to theatres this June with a sequel already possible!

Before she was WONDER WOMAN, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot (Chris Pine) crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers...and her true destiny.

MOST ANTICIPATED 2017 NEW EPIC TV SERIES BRIEF OVERVIEW: BRITANNIA, JAMESTOWN, WHITE PRINCESS, VERSAILLES, KNIGHTFALL, WILL, TROY FALL OF A CITY, STILL STAR CROSSED

  'BRITANNIA' 

To air sometime this year on Sky One (probably September), the ten episode epic series is set in 43AD as the Roman Imperial Army returns to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia - a mysterious land ruled by warrior women and powerful druids who can channel the powerful forces of the underworld. Spy More

  'JAMESTOWN' 

Also airing this year on Sky One (May 5th), the eight part saga is set in the early 17th Century, following three courageous women who leave their dark pasts behind in England, and make the journey of a lifetime across the ocean for a new life in America. Spy More

  'WHITE PRINCESS' 

To start airing its eight episode season from April 16th on Starz it will bring the story of Elizabeth of York, the White Queen's daughter, and her marriage to the Lancaster victor, Henry VII from the Tudor dynasty. Spy More

'VERSAILLES' 

Already airing in France, the second season of the lavish saga about famous Sun King who is building his court at Versailles, will air in UK from April 21st, Germany from May, Canada June and in USA on Ovation from Autumn. Spy More

'KNIGHTFALL' 

Telling the story of the final days of Knights Templar during the 14th century it will air later this year in ten episodes on History Channel, A+E with the cast lead by Tom Cullen! Spy More

  'WILL' 

A drama about the lost years of young William Shakespeare after his arrival to London in 1589 when theatre was like rock and roll and ayoung man with a dream changed the world with his words.Ten episode saga starts this summer on TNT. Spy More

  'TROY: FALL OF A CITY'

Retelling the legendary story of the 10 year old siege of Troy, which occurred in the 12 or 13th century BC, this BBC and Netflix eight part series will air later this year. Spy More

'STILL STAR CROSSED' 

Eight part period drama that picks up where the famous story of Romeo and Juliet leaves off, charting the treachery, palace intrigue, and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets will start airing on ABC Monday May 29th. Spy More

HOT FROM THE SPYLINE

 POLDARK third season starts on BBC in June - THE DURRELLS second season starts on ITV this month, third season has been ordered too - VICTORIA second season starts on ITV this Autumn will have Christmas Special - MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE second season shoots in September, sadly, won't have Richard Madden as it will focus on Cosimo's grandson Lorenzo Medici. THE LAST KINGDOM season 2 already airs in UK, will hit Neftlix from May. THE CROWN season 2 will have young Camila Parker Bowles