Starz is really in the throes of a period renaissance. In the last few years, the cable channel has featured “Outlander,” “The Spanish Princess,” “The White Queen,” “The White Princess,” and just this month released “Mary & George” starring Julianne Moore (read our review). And now, the queen mother returns this summer. The cable channel’s delightfully wicked prestige period drama, “The Serpent Queen” starring Samantha Morton turned heads in 2022 and the series is plotting its comeback welcoming Minnie Driver as the infamous ‘Virgin Queen’ Elizabeth I for season two.
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Created by Justin Haythe, known for his book “The Honeymoon,” and the screenplay for the film “Revolutionary Road,” the series is based on the 2004 nonfiction book “Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France” by Leonie Frieda. Morton stars as Catherine de Medici, the 16th-century Queen of France.
On top of Morton, “The Serpent Queen” stars Amrita Acharia, Barry Atsma, Enzo Cilenti, Sennia Nanua, and Kiruna Stamell. Season one was directed by regarded filmmakers like Stacie Passon (“Concussion”) and Ingrid Jungermann (“Women Who Kill”). Ludivine Sagnier, Colm Meaney, Charles Dance, Adam Garcia, David Denman, and Rupert Everett were among some of the recurring actors and guest stars in season one.
Here’s the series synopsis:
The series follows the story of Catherine de’ Medici, who marries into the French Valois court as a fourteen-year-old teenager expected to bring in a fortune in dowry and produce heirs. Despite many challenges, a lifetime of clever political maneuvering allows her to rule France as queen for 30 years. Queen Catherine summons a servant girl, Rahima, and begins to recount the story of her young life as an orphan before being rescued by her uncle, Pope Clement, who has negotiated her marriage to Prince Henri, second in line to the French throne.
“The Serpent Queen” premiered on Starz on September 11, 2022. Starz renewed the series for a second season in October 2022, which is scheduled to premiere this summer, though no specific date has been given yet.
More details will surface soon, in the meantime, here’s your first look at the Season two trailer of “The Serpent Queen.”