The Serpent Queen is an American historical drama television series about the life of Catherine de' Medici, the 16th century Queen of France, as portrayed by actress Samantha Morton. The series was created by Justin Haythe and is based on the 2004 nonfiction book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda. The Serpent Queen premiered on Starz on September 11, 2022. In October 2022, Starz renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on 12 July 2024.
The Serpent Queen | |
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Genre | Historical drama |
Created by | Justin Haythe |
Based on | Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda |
Starring | |
Composer | Bear McCreary |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 15 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Nick O'Hagan |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | Starz |
Release | September 11, 2022 present | –
Plot
editThe 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.
Cast and characters
editMain
edit- Samantha Morton as Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France
- Liv Hill (season 1) as the younger Catherine, Duchess (Duchessina) of Urbino
- Amrita Acharia as Aabis, a Romani woman who is part of young Catherine's entourage
- Ruby Bentall as Angelica, daughter of a famed perfumier who accompanies Catherine to France
- Barry Atsma (season 1) and Alexandre Willaume (season 2) as Montmorency, a member of King Francis's privy council and later the Constable General of France
- Enzo Cilenti as Cosimo Ruggeri, an Italian fortune teller brought to France by Catherine
- Sennia Nanua (season 1) and Emma McDonald (season 2) as Rahima, Catherine's new maid who rises to a powerful position in the court
- Kiruna Stamell as Mathilde (season 1), Catherine's dwarf maid
- Nicholas Burns as Antoine de Bourbon, elder son of Charles de Bourbon
- Beth Goddard as Antoinette de Guise, Claude's wife, the mother of Francois and Charles, and the grandmother of Mary, Queen of Scots
- Raza Jaffrey as Francois, Duc de Guise, elder son of Claude de Guise
- Danny Kirrane as Louis de Bourbon, Antoine's younger brother
- Ray Panthaki as Charles, Cardinal de Guise, the Duc de Guise's younger brother
- Angus Imrie as Henri of Navarre, later Henry IV (season 2),[1] the son of Antoine de Bourbon and Jeanne d’Albret
- Bill Milner as Charles IX (season 2),[1] Catherine's second son by Henri, and the King of France
- Jordan Bigot and Yngve Sanchez Beuthe portray the younger Charles in season 1
- Stanley Morgan as the Duke of Anjou, later Henry III (season 2),[1] Catherine's son and the younger brother of Charles IX
- Philippine Velge as Margot (season 2),[1] Catherine's youngest daughter
Recurring
edit- Ludivine Sagnier as Diane de Poitiers, Henri's older mistress (guest in season 2)
- Paul Chahidi as Charles de Bourbon (season 1), another member of the privy council
- Navid Negahban as Claude, Duke de Guise (season 1), the third member of the privy council
- Naomi Battrick as Anne d'Etampes (season 1), one of Francis I's mistresses
- Colm Meaney as Francis I (season 1)
- Rebecca Gethings as Queen Eleanor (season 1)
- Gemma Dobson as Nathalie (season 1), a kitchen servant
- Antonia Clarke as Mary, Queen of Scots
- Steve Furst as Dr. Fernel
- Lee Ingleby as Henri II (season 1)
- Alex Heath portrays the younger Henri, the Duke of Orleans and second son of King Francis, who marries Catherine
- George Jaques as Francis II (season 1), Catherine's eldest son by Henri
- Jean-Stan Du Pac (season 1) and Mikaël Mittelstadt (season 2) as Matisse, a boy who becomes Sebastio's apprentice and befriends Aabis, who later becomes like a son to her
- Jade Croot (season 1) and Isobel Jesper Jones (season 2) as Edith, a Protestant girl protected by Montmorency who becomes a preacher
- Laura Marcus as Elisabeth (season 2), Catherine's oldest daughter
- Scott Folan as Hercule (season 2), Catherine's younger son
- Neill Murray as Balsac (season 2), Anjou's mignon
- Henry Felix as Lemur, Anjou's mignon (season 2)
- Alexander Ferrario as Caylus, Anjou's mignon (season 2)
- Rosalie Craig as Jeanne d'Albret (season 2),[1] the queen of Navarre, wife of Antoine and mother of Henry IV
Guest
edit- Louis Landau as Dauphin François (season 1), King Francis's firstborn son
- Charles Dance as Pope Clement VII (season 1)
- Adam Garcia as Sebastio (season 1), young Catherine's atelier
- Memet Ali Alabora as Sultan Suleiman (season 1)
- Anna Cottis as Cook (season 1)
- David Denman as Pierre Marques (season 1)
- Katie Haigh Mayet as Geraldine Marques (season 1), Pierre's wife
- Rupert Everett as Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- Nicolas Robin as Gabriel de Lorges, Count of Montgomery (season 1)
- James Gerard as Tancrede
- Minnie Driver as Elizabeth I (season 2),[1] Queen of England
- Alex Price as Lord Throckmorton (season 2)
- Ashley Thomas as Alessandro de Medici (season 2)[1]
- Paulo dos Santos as Prince Philip (season 2)
- Lilea Le Borgne as Sisi of Austria (season 2), Charles's love interest
Episodes
editSeries overview
editSeason | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 8 | September 11, 2022 | October 30, 2022 | |
2 | 8[2] | July 12, 2024 | August 30, 2024[2] |
Season 1 (2022)
editNo. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by [3] | Original air date | U.S.A. viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "The Medici Bitch" | Stacie Passon | Justin Haythe | September 11, 2022 | 0.194[4] | |
Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France, begins telling servant girl Rahima about her early years. An orphan from a wealthy Italian family in Florence who has been raised in a convent, Catherine is sent by her uncle, Pope Clement VII, as a potential wife for Henri, second son of King Francis of France. Though not considered desirable by the royal family, shrewd Catherine takes the negotiation into her own hands and convinces Francis to accept her. Catherine falls in love with Henri immediately, and believes he feels the same. They are married, and Catherine's distant cousin, Diane de Poitiers, gives her advice about how to handle Henri on their wedding night. The consummation is completed, but afterward Henri is upset and sends Catherine away. Looking for answers, she returns to his chambers in time to find him in bed with Diane. In the present, Catherine tells Rahima that what she learned from this is never to trust anyone. The Queen becomes annoyed with the servant girl and has her dragged away. | |||||||
2 | 2 | "To War Rather Than To Bed" | Stacie Passon | Justin Haythe | September 18, 2022 | 0.183[5] | |
Catherine chooses Rahima as her new maid, and continues her story. Young Catherine is desperate to conceive a child to secure her place at court, especially after she has a vision that predicts the death of her uncle, the Pope. Diane plots to be rid of Catherine, but Henri scoffs at Diane's suggestion that he marry the older woman. Henri resists Catherine's invitation to her bedroom thanks to Diane's influence, so Catherine beds a stable hand to get pregnant. Soon after, Henri comes to her room to do his duty, sympathetic to her plight. Catherine and Henri bond over their mutual dislike of the Dauphin, Henri's violent older brother. Recognizing that Francis and the powerful Sultan Suleiman, the king's guest, both have an enemy in the Holy Roman Emperor, Catherine puts in motion an alliance between them for which Henri is credited. In the present, Catherine correctly deduces—seemingly by magic—that Rahima is being bullied by a servant named Nathalie. Catherine gives Rahima a small sachet of gunpowder, which the servant places in bread dough that she knows Nathalie will be baking. As Rahima scurries away, the kitchen explodes behind her. | |||||||
3 | 3 | "The Price" | Stacie Passon | Justin Haythe & Elizabeth Chakkappan | September 25, 2022 | 0.234[6] | |
Nathalie has lost an eye, and Catherine appears in time to spare Rahima punishment. Catherine's widowed daughter-in-law Mary, Queen of Scots, vows to prevent "that Italian witch" Catherine from ruling through her son Charles. Young Catherine swoons over Henri's wartime letters, but is distressed when he returns with his Italian mistress Filippa Duci and infant daughter Diane. Diane exiles Filippa and her baby, and offers to assist Catherine in conceiving to secure their future. Henri's military success in Italy wins his father's favor, and the king is impressed with Catherine for masterminding the alliance. Bourbon suggests to Francois that an "accident" befall Catherine to eliminate France's distracting ties to Italy. Assailants ambush Catherine, but she escapes. Catherine seeks help getting pregnant from Ruggeri, who cites a future price to be paid and throws her a book of potions. Francois collapses playing tennis and dies of heart failure. In denial, the king accuses the Italians of poisoning him. Ruggeri's book is found in Sebastio's room, and Catherine tearfully allows her atelier's arrest to save herself. Sebastio is executed and Catherine falls pregnant, the price having been paid. | |||||||
4 | 4 | "A New Era" | Ingrid Jungermann | Justin Haythe & Elizabeth Chakkappan | October 2, 2022 | 0.188[7] | |
Nathalie threatens Rahima with revenge if Mary ascends the throne. Catherine’s narration jumps fifteen years and nine children as she and Henri lose a newborn son. In seclusion, Catherine falls into a fog. The Guises seize Château de Chenonceau from Pierre Marques, while the Bourbons attempt an alliance with Marques to thwart the Guises. King Francis suffers a fall during an early morning hunt and later succumbs to his injuries, but not before assuring Catherine that she will prevail after his death. Catherine is added to the privy council and warns Henri of a challenge from the Holy Roman Emperor. She offers Château de Chaumont as a gift to Diane, who is indignant at being banished. Diane pays Angelica handsomely to supply her with a gold solution that will purportedly preserve her youth. Henri dons Diane’s colors on coronation day, to Catherine's disbelief. A messenger delivers the severed head of a Valois envoy from the Holy Roman Emperor. In the present, Catherine receives a written message that troubles her. Rahima claims she is unable to read it, but later reads a book in her room. | |||||||
5 | 5 | "The First Regency" | Ingrid Jungermann | Jessica Brickman and Justin Haythe | October 9, 2022 | 0.102[8] | |
Catherine tells Rahima the message contains evidence that Mary and her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England, are conspiring against her. Catherine recalls that Henri named her regent while he was away fighting the Holy Roman Emperor. The Bourbons and the Guises try to manipulate Catherine to their own ends, but she outmaneuvers them and appeals to the Protestant faction for both financial and military aid. Angelica warns Diane that too much of the gold solution can drive her insane, but Diane is addicted and insists on more and more. Diane persuades Henri to not fight in the battle, and though he returns to court victorious, he fears he is seen as weak and under Diane's control. Catherine suggests to Henri that he find Montmorency and bring him back to court. Protestant Pierre lashes out with a warning that the self-indulgent ruling class will soon be overthrown by the commoners. An incensed Diane slashes his throat. Henry is impressed by Catherine's astute and effective regency. In the present, Rahima searches Mary's rooms at Catherine's request, looking for more correspondence between Mary and Elizabeth. Though Catherine has distracted Mary, she sends one of Mary's ladies to her rooms. Rahima is discovered. | |||||||
6 | 6 | "The Last Joust" | Justin Haythe | Dawn M. Kamoche & Ariella Blejer and Justin Haythe | October 16, 2022 | 0.156[9] | |
As a path to power, the Guises have plotted with Diane to move forward with the wedding of their devout, Catholic niece, Mary, to Henri's heir, Francis II. Despite Catherine's interference, Henri ultimately bends to Diane's will. Wanting to be rid of Diane once and for all, Catherine finally locates Ruggeri, and recounts her dream of Diane's and Henri's deaths. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and the King of Spain, attends the nuptials. Believing that sacrificing Henri is worth neutralizing Diane's influence, Catherine encourages him to joust. She changes her mind at the last minute, but Henri proceeds and is killed. In the present, Catherine refuses to release an imprisoned Rahima, and it becomes clear she is manipulating her maid into some course of action. | |||||||
7 | 7 | "An Attack on the King" | Stacie Passon | Ashley Cardiff and Justin Haythe | October 23, 2022 | 0.222[10] | |
In the present, Mary visits Rahima to tell her side of the story in an attempt to sway the maid to her side and produce evidence of Catherine’s involvement in the dark arts. In the past, Henri is impaled during the joust and succumbs to his injuries in the arms of a disbelieving Diane. Catherine banishes her from court. Charles V flirts with Catherine at the funeral and affirms Mary’s zealous determination to unite a Catholic Europe. Antoinette de Guise and Antoine have a final tryst the night before an edict criminalizing Protestantism goes into effect, resulting in the expulsion of the Bourbons and rampant executions. Catherine finds Montmorency at a clandestine Protestant service and importunes him to reason with Francis II. Catherine and the Bourbons plot to kidnap Francis II and ultimately return him to paint the Protestants as patriotic. In the present, Rahima flatters Mary and agrees to search for the letter from Elizabeth I in Catherine's quarters. Rahima and Catherine reconcile. | |||||||
8 | 8 | "A Queen Is Made" | Justin Haythe | Justin Haythe | October 30, 2022 | 0.202[11] | |
In the recent past, Catherine thwarts the kidnapping plot, and the Bourbon princes flee. Catherine stabs Montmorency so that Antoine, the regent, can escape, while Louis is captured by François and sentenced to death for treason. The Guises seek to install a recovering Montmorency as puppet regent to appease the people, whereas Catherine goads Mary into requesting the regency for herself. Francis II, dying of consumption, emotionally rejects Mary's request, but approves Catherine's regency. Louis is pardoned in the nick of time as Catherine's regency is proclaimed. Rahima steals a letter from Elizabeth I to Mary that Catherine has intercepted. Realizing it is a forgery, she hands it over to a trusting Mary, demanding a title and land from Catherine for her loyalty. In the false letter, Elizabeth I promises Mary her help in securing the French throne, and as Catherine intended, Mary returns to Scotland but there she learns that the message was a lie. At the May 1561 coronation of 11-year-old Charles IX, Catherine places the crown on his head herself. |
Season 2 (2024)
editNo. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by [3] | Original air date [2] | U.S.A. viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | 1 | "Grand Tour" | Justin Haythe | Justin Haythe | July 12, 2024 | N/A | |
Ten years later, in 1572, Charles is an adult, but defers to Catherine's rule. His brother, Anjou, taunts his subservience to their mother, who subsequently puts Anjou in his place. Rahima has risen to a position of power in the palace. Catherine visits Ruggeri in the forest. Antoinette pressures her sons to instigate a war between the Catholics and Protestants to assure their family's future, but Francois resists. The Bourbon brothers' schemes require the assistance of Antoine's intimidating wife, Jeanne, Queen of Navarre. As a means to secure Jeanne's cooperation, the Bourbons convince Charles to attend a service at a local Protestant church. Catherine begins an affair with Montmorency. Charles sets out to the church along with the Bourbons. Antoinette blackmails Francois with letters written to his male lover, and he has his men set the Protestant church on fire, with Aabis, Matisse and Edith inside. | |||||||
10 | 2 | "Second Coming" | Justin Haythe | Justin Haythe & Elizabeth Chakkappan | July 19, 2024 | N/A | |
Charles and the Bourbons escape from the church and the Bourbons demand retribution from the Guises for the church, convinced that they are responsible. Montmorency privately receives information that there were no survivors. Francois has his male lover killed for his betrayal and burns the letters that his mother had taken. Catherine strikes a deal with both the Bourbons and the Guises - the Bourbons can start trade negotiations with protestant England and in return, they will drop the case against the Guises; the Guises and the other Catholic nobles will finance the new palace that Catherine plans to build in Paris in return for Francois's pardon. Catherine also visits Diane and Angelica and asks Diane to contribute to the palace; in return Catherine will make sure Diane's daughters will inherit her estate. Catherine also asks Diane to look after her children while she is in Italy to raise funds for the palace. Before Catherine leaves, Rahima tells her that there are rumours that people survived the church fire. Francois also finds Edith and her congregation including Aabis and Matisse alive and hiding in the forest, with Edith planning a revolt against the monarchy. | |||||||
11 | 3 | "Death of a Prince" | Melanie Mayron | Justin Haythe & Elizabeth Chakkappan | July 26, 2024 | N/A | |
Anjou and his friends are attacked by a group of Edith's Protestant followers. He asks Charles for justice but he rebuffs Anjou, citing it will only escalate the current hostilities. In Florence, Catherine manages to secure a loan from the Bank of Strozzi and meets her half-brother, Alessandro de Medici. Though Catherine's initially skeptical, she warms up to him. Montmorency meets up with Edith and she agrees to disband her congregation if Francois is punished for his crimes. Aabis tries to get Edith to convince Matisse to leave the forest to get medicated, but she refuses to force him to leave. Diane arrives at the French court and counsels Anjou to abandon his plans for revenge. Jeanne arrives in England, meets with Queen Elizabeth, and is successful in her mission to secure trade deals between England and France. The Bourbons including Jeanne's son Henri advise King Charles to initiate the trade deals immediately whereas Montmorency asks him to arrest Francois. Charles tells the Bourbons to continue the trade deals but to keep him updated on everything and asks Montmorency to bring in Francois for questioning. When Anjou is returning from a hunt with his friends, more protestants emerge and tell him God will punish him for his perversions. Anjou kills their leader and one of them throws a stone at Hercule, wounding him severely. | |||||||
12 | 4 | "Judas" | Melanie Mayron | Justin Haythe & Elizabeth Chakkappan | August 2, 2024 | TBD | |
Catherine arrives back just in time to see the dying Hercule. Cardinal Guise visits Anjou and tells him that he can take revenge on Edith with the imminently arriving Holy Roman Emperor's help. However, during Hercule's funeral, the Holy Roman Emperor informs Catherine of the plan and stresses the importance of quelling the rising protestant faith. Aabis talks to Angelica about Matisse's predicament, who then informs Catherine. She makes Ruggeri suggest that Aabis poison Edith to rescue Matisse from her grasp; meanwhile, Angelica makes a secret deal with the Bourbons. Louis de Bourbon reaches England and meets with Queen Elizabeth. She convinces him to strike a deal with her to usurp the Valois and supplant his house on the French throne. The Holy Roman Emperor's sadistic son Philip makes sexual overtures towards Elizabeth, though after learning of his deceased wife she starts to feel sympathy for him. He is later kicked on the head by a horse. Margot tries to get Catherine to release Francois, but instead, she makes her leverage the king's unnatural attraction towards her to get the duke released and Anjou put under house arrest. Aabis tries to poison Edith. Edith catches her and makes her drink the poison, after which she herself drinks it. Taking advantage of this development Edith proclaims that she cannot be harmed and gets Aabis baptized into the protestant faith. | |||||||
13 | 5 | "Time with the Family" | Kate Dennis | Justin Haythe & Elizabeth Chakkappan | August 9, 2024 | TBD | |
Alessandro asks Catherine to invest in America to pursue her policy of tolerance. Montmorency is furious at Catherine for the murder attempt on Edith. Catherine meets Ruggeri and he tells her to make her sons choose sides for the power balance. Montmorency has Angelica come forward to testify that she and Aabis tried to poison Edith on Catherine's orders. Catherine abruptly leaves the council, however she makes sure that Anjou is released from house arrest and receives a place on the privy council before she leaves; thereby having Anjou on the Guise (Catholic) side and Charles on the Bourbon (Protestant) side to balance out the power. Antoinnette sees Margot talking to Francois and confronts him about it, however he adamantly tells her to leave her out of their schemes. The Bourbons along with Jeanne and Henri meet Edith; however she tortures Antoine to remove his sin. Cardinal Guise has a crisis of faith and secretly gets baptised into the protestant faith. Queen Elizabeth lands in Flanders, Netherlands along with men and weapons. On Alessandro's advice to avoid a civil war, Catherine has her daughter Elizabeth marry Philip, son of the Holy Roman Emperor. She also has plans for Charles to marry Queen Elizabeth just as Elizabeth herself arrives at the French court on Catherine's invitation. | |||||||
14 | 6 | "Courting the Valois" | Kate Dennis | Justin Haythe & Elizabeth Chakkappan | August 16, 2024 | TBD | |
Catherine asks her sons to show unity in front of Elizabeth. Rahima tells her that Cardinal Guise converted and she asks to get the Catholic League involved against them. Edith asks Cardinal Guise to spy on Catherine. The Catholic league threatens Antoinette and she makes Francois get him in line. Elizabeth is presented as a prospective bride for Charles to the surprise and shock of the Bourbons. Later, Elizabeth tells Antoine that she has sent four wagons of weapons to Edith and that she wants to rule France. On a hunting trip with the royal family and Elizabeth, Catherine has a vision of a raven eating a serpent just as she hears that Charles is injured. The Bourbons along with Throckmorton bring the weapons to Edith; Montmorency tries for peace with Edith unsuccessfully. Rahima tells Catherine she has suspicions on Alessandro laundering money from her; Catherine forgives Angelica for not poisoning Edith and asks her to spy on Alessandro. Alessandro later tells Rahima he knows she also has laundered Catherine's money. Ruggeri warns Catherine she is surrounded by traitors, however she angrily storms off unwilling to believe him. Elizabeth tries to create rivalry between Charles and Anjou and suggests a duel declaring that she will marry the winner. A love-stricken and injured Charles proceeds with it and mocks Anjou for his sexuality. Even though Anjou lets Charles win, Charles falls down due to his injuries and coughs up blood. | |||||||
15 | 7 | "A House Divided" | Justin Haythe | Justin Haythe & Elizabeth Chakkappan | August 23, 2024 | TBD | |
Dr.Fernel tells Catherine the king is dying of consumption and she tells him not to inform anyone about this. Catherine and Anjou have an argument; meanwhile the Catholic league commands Francois to marry Margot and be the next king in return for letting Cardinal Guise live. He later breaks up with Margot for her own sake but Antoinette finds her and consoles her. Catherine meets with Elizabeth and asks her to marry Anjou instead, but Elizabeth rejects it on account of Anjou's sexuality. She leaves the next day and tells Catherine to get her house in order while revealing to her the Bourbons' betrayal. Angelica tells Catherine of Rahima's affair with Alessandro and she catches them planning on betraying her. The Bourbons escape from the palace and join Edith. Montmorency baptises into protestantism in exchange for Edith meeting the king. Catherine meets Ruggeri and he tells her she has six betrayers around her - Montmorency, the Guises, the Bourbons, Rahima, Alessandro and an unknown sixth person, who is possibly one of her children. Antoinette and Margot visit Catherine and ask her for permission to marry Francois. Catherine later goes to Cardinal Guise and informs him that the king is dying. She has one of her spies steal the Catholic leagues' document which wants Francois to be king and makes her peace with Anjou. She also supports Charles when he decides to baptise into protestantism on Montmorency's advice and goes also with him to meet Edith. She makes a deal with Edith to have Margot and Henri married to each other and to have Henri crowned as king after Charles' death with Edith being his regent. Charles gets baptised into protestantism. | |||||||
16 | 8 | "All Saints Day" | TBA | Justin Haythe | August 30, 2024 | TBD |
Production
editDevelopment
editIn February 2021, Starz granted an eight episode series based upon the book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda, with Justin Haythe set to serve as a writer and executive producer, with Francis Lawrence and Erwin Stoff also set to executive produce. Stacie Passon will direct multiple episodes of the series, including the pilot. Production companies involved in the series were slated to consist of Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment.[12] Starz renewed the series for a second season on October 27, 2022.[13] Lorris Chevalier is the historical advisor.[14]
Casting
editIn April 2021, Samantha Morton joined the cast as Catherine de' Medici.[15] In May 2021, Amrita Acharia, Enzo Cilenti, Barry Atsma, Nicholas Burns and Danny Kirrane joined the cast in starring roles, while Charles Dance, Ludivine Sagnier, Liv Hill, Kiruna Stamell, and Colm Meaney in recurring capacity.[16] In June 2021, Ray Panthaki joined the cast of the series.[17] In August 2021, it was announced Raza Jaffrey, Sennia Nanua, Beth Goddard and Alex Heath had joined the cast of the series, in undisclosed, starring and recurring capacities, respectively.[18][19][20]
New cast members for season two were announced in March 2024, including Minnie Driver in the recurring role of Queen Elizabeth I, Emma McDonald as a recast Rahima, as well as series regulars Angus Imrie, Stanley Morgan and Philippine Velge. Also recurring will be Bill Milner, Ashley Thomas, Rosalie Craig, Isobel Jesper Jones and Alexandre Willaume.[1]
Filming
editPrincipal photography of the first season began in April 2021 in Marseille and in the Loire Valley in France and in the Papal Palace in Italy.[21][22]
Music
editThe Serpent Queen (A Starz Original Series Soundtrack) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | 28 October 2022 | |||
Genre | Orchestral | |||
Length | 49:15 | |||
Label | Sparks & Shadows | |||
Bear McCreary chronology | ||||
|
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Serpent Queen" (feat. Esjay Jones) | 3:35 |
2. | "Catherine de' Medici" | 3:10 |
3. | "Rajima and the Queen" | 5:20 |
4. | "Arrival in France" | 3:46 |
5. | "Catherine Meets Henri" | 3:18 |
6. | "From Duke to King" | 5:19 |
7. | "Diane de Poitiers" | 4:04 |
8. | "Drenched in Gold" | 3:12 |
9. | "Forbidden Fruit" | 3:56 |
10. | "An Eye for an Eye" | 4:59 |
11. | "Mad Love" | 3:36 |
12. | "Trust No One" | 4:30 |
13. | "The Serpent Queen Main Title" | 0:25 |
Total length: | 49:15 |
Release
editThe Serpent Queen premiered on Starz on September 11, 2022.[23]
The second season premiered on July 12, 2024.[24]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 19 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads, "The Serpent Queen dramatizes one of history's most infamous monarchs with a deft, sardonic touch, with Samantha Morton's commanding star turn likely to swallow viewers' attention whole."[25] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[26]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Otterson, Joe (March 6, 2024). "Minnie Driver Among 10 Cast in Serpent Queen Season 2 at Starz". Variety. Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Shows A-Z – The Serpent Queen on Starz". The Futon Critic. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ a b "The Serpent Queen". Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ Salem, Mitch (September 13, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 9.11.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (September 20, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 9.18.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ Salem, Mitch (September 27, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 9.25.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (October 4, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.2.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ Salem, Mitch (October 11, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.9.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (October 18, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.16.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ Salem, Mitch (October 25, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.23.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Salem, Mitch (November 1, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.30.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ White, Peter (May 4, 2021). "Starz Orders Catherine De Medici Drama The Serpent Queen From Justin Haythe, Francis Lawrence & Erwin Stoff, Stacie Passon to Direct Opener". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ Bell, BreAnna (October 27, 2022). "The Serpent Queen Renewed for Season 2 at Starz". Variety. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ "Conférence événement: Napoléon de l'histoire à la fiction Les coulisses du film". Frequence-sud.fr (in French). Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ Petski, Denise (April 7, 2021). "Samantha Morton to Star as Catherine De Medici in Starz's The Serpent Queen". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (May 10, 2021). "The Serpent Queen: Starz Casts Catherine de Medici's Royal Court". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (June 25, 2021). "The Serpent Queen: Ray Panthaki Joins Cast of Starz Catherine De Medici Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
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