'The Last Czars': Release date, plot, cast, trailer, news and everything else about Netflix's docu-drama
'The Last Czars' is a big-budget historical drama which is one of Netflix’s more ambitious undertakings. The show narrates one of the most enthralling stories of the final years of the majestic Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia for three centuries.
The downfall of the Romanov Empire happened under Czar Nicholas II, who was married to Tsarina Alexandra. They had a loving marriage which was not all that common at the time among royals and had their five children - Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei – together.
However, their happy life came crashing down when rebels overthrew and imprisoned them before they massacred them. ‘The Last Czars’ will see how their larger-than-life story unfolded.
Release date:
'The Last Czar' is set to premiere on Netflix on July 3.
Plot:
Set in the early 20th century, ‘The Last Czars’ begins with the death of Alexander III, and the subsequent coronation of Nicholas II, before going on to narrate the social upheaval that ended with the uprooting of the Romanov Empire soon after the February Revolution.
Nicholas was under tremendous pressure to not just continue the dynasty, but also to expand the empire and coupled with the love-cocoon that he was in living in with his wife, he did not see the unrest among his people. The focus of the Netflix series is on the private life of Nicholas and Alexandra, and how their love for their family led them to the infamous Rasputin. This association was the final push to their doom.
Cast:
'The Last Czars' sees Robert Jack as Nicholas II, Susanna Herbert as Alexandra, and Ben Cartwright as Rasputin. Herbert is a British actress and TV director and 'The Last Czars' is expected to be her breakout role, while Cartwright has appeared on 'Coronation Street,' 'Sherlock Holmes,' and 'East Enders.' Jack, meanwhile, is probably best known for his role as Jacko in the 'Gay Tank Commander' series.
Showrunner:
Ben Goold is known for helming projects such as ‘Jesus: His Life,’ ‘The ‘90s Greatest,’ ‘Africa’s Great Civilizations,’ etc. Goold had a very specific vision for ‘The Last Czars,’ as he did for his other big productions.
In an interview with MEA WorldWide, Goold said, “We really wanted to find a way of bringing the story to life but not fictionalizing it. We would be telling the story itself and the dramatizations are absolutely based on very detailed historical research and records. What's extraordinary and fantastic about this story is that it's almost, it's always better than fiction. You couldn't make it up.”
Trailer:
The trailer shows how the royal couple, who were happily living in the safety of their luxurious palace were distraught when their only son became sick, and how they never saw the social unrest taking shape.
Where to watch:
When the show premieres on July 3, you can watch it on Netflix
If you liked 'The Last Czars' you will also love:
'The Crown,' 'Victoria,' 'The Royals,' 'The Windsors,' and 'Downton Abbey.'