Starz’s The Serpent Queen
Known for their historical series, Starz’s new period drama, The Serpent Queen, follows the life of Catherine de Medici. Against all odds, Catherine de Medici rose from an orphan to become one of the longest-serving rulers in French history. With the tagline “It’s time to enter our villain era,” it’s clear that The Serpent Queen is flipping the script on female historical portrayals. “Women have been vilified throughout history for being women, and for being strong and making choices,” says the show’s star, Samantha Morton. “These women are all surviving in a very male dominated world. And they have to play very dark games of chess in order to do that.”
Image Credits: Jason Bell (left) and The Serpent Queen on Instagram (right)
FAQ About The Serpent Queen
Who Plays Catherine de Medici?
Samantha Morton (below, left) serves in the title role, and from the start crafts an enigmatic, stoic performance. Interestingly, Morton previously played Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, in the 2007 film Elizabeth: the Golden Age. Relatedly, Mary Stuart (below, right) is expected to appear as a character in The Serpent Queen in episode two.
Image credits: The Serpent Queen Instagram
Is The Serpent Queen Based on a Book?
Yes, this new historical drama series is based on Leonie Frieda’s non-fiction biography of the queen, Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France. I’m about halfway through the biography at the time of writing this and have found it an enjoyable read. Frieda’s book is well-researched and thorough, and reads easily, almost like a historical fiction novel.
How Many Episodes Will There Be?
There are eight episodes in The Serpent Queen‘s first season.
Typically, Starz tends to renew series like this after the first season is released. As such, time will tell whether the series is renewed for a second season. The Spanish Princess, for example, had two seasons.
Where was The Serpent Queen filmed?
The series filmed in the real Château de Chenonceau, one of the most well-known châteaux in the Loire Valley. Samantha Morton, who plays Queen Catherine de Medici, discussed in an interview how “unnerving and inspiring and spooky” it was to film in a place that the real Catherine had been.
Where in Catherine de Medici’s Life Does the Series Begin?
This series opens with Catherine de Medici in the aftermath of her son (and husband to Mary, Queen of Scots) King Francis’ death. It quickly becomes a series of flashbacks to a younger version of the queen, quickly progressing through her tragic early childhood and up to her arrival in France. Liv Hill plays the younger Catherine, and she does an unnervingly good job breaking the fourth wall to narrate her story.
Image Credits: Starz
What Channel is The Serpent Queen on?
The new series is from Starz, which is available through subscription on Apple TV and other such providers. New episodes are available Sundays. Furthermore, the show’s page on the network’s website has more information about the cast and series.
Watch The Serpent Queen‘s Official Trailer
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*This post was originally published in September 2022. It was most recently updated on February 20, 2023.
