'Catherine the Great': Release date, plot, cast, trailer, and everything you need to know about the historical Russian drama
Actor Dame Helen Mirren is no stranger to playing royalty having delivered an exceptional performance as Queen Elizabeth in 'The Queen'. She returns to the world of historical television with 'Catherine the Great', a joint production between Sky and HBO. The four-part Sky/HBO drama is set in 18th century Russia and boasts of a stellar cast, opulent sets, and magnificent costumes.
Release date
There is no release date announced yet, but the networks say the series is coming this autumn. MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) will update this article once the dates are out.
Plot
According to Sky's official website, 'Catherine the Great' is a four-part drama that delves deeper into the politically tumultuous and sexually charged court of the most powerful monarch in history. Catherine wielded supreme power throughout Russia for nearly half of the 18th century — strong-minded, independent, brilliantly intelligent and sexually liberated, she was the definition of the modern woman. The series will follow Catherine towards the end of her reign and her passionate affair with Grigory Potemkin. Amid the scandal and immense conflict, this is a story of obsessive love. Unable to publicly marry and famously promiscuous, they develop a unique and devoted relationship, overcoming their adversaries and together shaping Russia as we know it today.
Cast
Helen Mirren playing the titular role of Catherine the Great
When accepting the role of Catherine, Mirren said, "I am very excited by the possibility of embodying a woman from history who grabbed and then wielded great power. She rewrote the rules of governance by a woman and succeeded to the extent of having the word Great attached to her name, Catherine the Great. I am very grateful to have HBO and Sky as partners in this endeavor. There are no other homes on television that bring the support and understanding needed for this kind of project."
Mirren is known to win not just the hearts of the audience but also critical acclaim for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Queen', a role for which she received the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Jason Clarke as Grigory Potemkin
Clarke is known for playing the role of Ted Kennedy in 'Chappaquiddick', and 'First Man', in which he played astronaut Ed White. In 2019, Clarke starred as Louis Creed in the new adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, 'Pet Sematary'.
Creators
Written by Nigel Williams ('Elizabeth I', 'Wodehouse in Exile') and directed by BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning Philip Martin ('The Crown', 'Mo', 'Prime Suspect'), 'Catherine the Great' will be executive produced by David M. Thompson ('Woman in Gold', 'Death Comes to Pemberley') for Origin Pictures and Charlie Pattinson ('Elizabeth I', 'The Missing', 'Skins') for New Pictures, Helen Mirren and Philip Martin. Jules Hussey ('Hooten and the Lady') is producing.
Trailers
"There are unscrupulous people in Russia — fortunately, I am one of them," declares Helen Mirren as Catherine the Great in the first trailer of the Sky series on the Russian Express. The trailer shows scenes in palaces, battlefields and the bedroom, with glimpses of the life and love of one of the most powerful female monarchs in history — including her passionate and very public affair with general Grigory Potemkin. "I have survived for half a century in a world that does not want me," Mirren is seen saying in the trailer.
HBO released the first full-length trailer for the upcoming four-part limited series. Mirren plays the role of an alpha female in the series. In the latest trailer, audiences can see a glimpse of the power Catherine held. "Do you know what I hold in my hand?" she asks. "Absolute power."
Where to watch
The four-part miniseries will be made available on HBO in the US and distributed to Canada through Bell Media. The show will also be available air on Sky Atlantic, NOW TV in the UK and Ireland, and on Sky Atlantic in Italy, Germany, Austria and Spain. Information about the dates and timings of the show is not out yet.
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