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'The Great': Release date, plot, cast, trailers and all you need to know about Hulu's Elle Fanning starrer

The upcoming Hulu Original will see Elle Fanning portray Catherine the Great, the longest-ruling Queen of Russia

After HBO's 'Catherine The Great', streaming service Hulu has introduced its own perspective on the longest-ruling Queen of Russia with its upcoming show 'The Great'. 

Release date: 

The show's first three episodes are set to premiere on May 15 on Hulu. 

Plot: 

Incorporating historical facts occasionally, 'The Great', according to Hulu is a "satirical, comedic drama about the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest-reigning female ruler in Russia’s history. Season One is a fictionalized, fun and anachronistic story of an idealistic, romantic young girl, who arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to the mercurial Emperor Peter. Hoping for love and sunshine, she finds instead a dangerous, depraved, backward world that she resolves to change. All she has to do is kill her husband, beat the church, baffle the military and get the court onside. A very modern story about the past which encompasses the many roles she played over her lifetime as a lover, teacher, ruler, friend, and fighter."

Cast: 

Elle Fanning as Catherine The Great

'Maleficent' actor Elle Fanning portrays the titular role and also serves as the executive producer of the same. The show covers the time period in Catherine's life when she was new to the capital and was expected to serve her to-be-husband well. How things change after her marriage and the steps that Catherine takes to become the ruler of the Soviet Union forms the crux of the show. 

Nicholas Hoult as Emperor Peter

'X-Men: Dark Phoenix' actor Nicholas Hoult will play the role of Peter in 'The Great'. He is described as a "mercurial emperor", and for Catherine to ascend to the throne, she must kill Peter. The relationship between Catherine and Peter takes the centerstage on the show.

Creator: 

The show is created by Tony McNamara who wrote the stage play the 10-episode series is based. McNamara also serves as the executive producer. He is known for his critically acclaimed work on 'The Favourite' for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Trailers: 

This is not like any other period drama and the trailer which dropped on March 23 tries hard to stress on the same. Fanning as Catherine who gushes (exaggeratedly!) about how she hopes her relationship with Peter would grow over the years is played off well by the snide (classist) comments by Coult as Peter. Now Catherine has always felt that she had greatness within her, but when her husband says "No, you don't talk my love." She obeys. Says, "Oh, of course!" and takes her rightful seat. The trailer is outrageously funny and that is exactly what the creators are going for. 

The release date announcement of the show was made with a teaser that centered on how different Catherine and Peter were for each other and how quickly Catherine realizes that she is married to an idiot. 

If you like this, you'll love: 

Catherine The Great

The Crown

Downton Abbey

Belgravia

Outlander