In today’s episode of Bingeworthy, our TV and streaming podcast host Mike DeAngelo gets to the occasional truth with Hulu’s hit period comedy series, “The Great.” Created by Tony McNamara (“The Favourite,” “Cruella”), the show follows the sometimes true rise to power and subsequent rule of Catherine “The Great” (Elle Fanning) in a chaotic and debaucherous 18th century Russia. The show also stars Nicholas Hoult, Adam Godley, Phoebe Fox, Gwilym Lee, Douglas Hodge, and more.
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Joining Bingeworthy to discuss the show are stars Elle Fanning (“Super 8,” “The Girl From Plainville,” “The Beguiled”) and Nicholas Hoult (“Renfield,” “The Menu,” “X-Men: First Class”). During the chat, Hoult reflected on the blessing of being able to play Peter III, one of the most delightfully filthy and nuanced characters on television, for yet another season.
“I really look forward to coming back and playing Peter,” Hoult said. “It’s the character I enjoy playing the most ever, I think. He’s written in such a freeing liberated way that it gives me the confidence as an actor to try and do anything and not be fearful of it. I haven’t found another character that has been quite able to do that for me, mentally, I don’t think.”
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The topic of playing real-life historical figures also comes up in the interview and how Fanning and Hoult, along with creator Tony McNamara, look at portraying the actual events vs. just making a good, honest show.
“I think, at this point, it’s not a concern,” Fanning said. “We’ve taken so much liberty at this point – especially this season – and have created our own versions of these characters that live on in so many different [settings]. They could be put in the modern world, in the ’50s, in whatever country, and it would still be a relatable romance and rise to power, and all of those dynamics are the same. Some things we definitely add in, but we do honor her in the sense of the progressive ideas that she pushed forward and did –  all of that stuff was true.”
Hoult is currently shooting Robert Eggers’ highly anticipated horror film, “Nosferatu,” a remake of the 1922 silent film in which Hoult plays Thomas Hutter, a real estate agent who is summoned to a remote Transylvanian castle to assist a mysterious count in finding a new home. Hoult teased his experience shooting the film thus far and his fandom of Eggers.
“I’ve been shooting it today – I’m in Prague,” Hoult said. “Robert Eggers is just an incredible filmmaker, so I love going again to peek behind the curtain a little bit and see how he and his team approach the story and create because they’re remarkable. From what I’ve seen, I’m blown away by it. It looks amazing. I’m, like, just a fan.”
“The Great” Season 3 premieres on Hulu on May 12th. Listen to the full interview with Nicholas Hoult & Elle Fanning below:
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