Throughout the decades, there haven’t been many stars that can rival the great Helen Mirren. For years, she’s consistently starred in projects that are must-sees for film fans. And now, she’s bringing those talents to HBO in the upcoming miniseries “Catherine the Great.”
As seen in the new trailer for “Catherine the Great,” the series focuses on the latter part of the woman’s reign. Political and sexual intrigue are the name of the game, as we take a look at the title character’s love affair with Grigory Potemkin in the 18th century.
“I am very excited by the possibility of embodying a woman from history who grabbed and then wielded great power,” Mirren said (via EW). “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 endeavour. There are no other homes on television that bring the support and understanding needed for this kind of project.”
Executive producer David M. Thompson said, “Helen Mirren came to me with the idea for ‘Catherine the Great’ when we were working with her on ‘Woman in Gold,’ saying it’s a part she’s always wanted to play. I’m delighted we’re now making the series and indeed we can’t think of anyone better for the role.”
HBO and Sky have teamed up for this miniseries. The four-part series is directed by Philip Martin, who worked with Mirren on “Prime Suspect.” Nigel Williams penned the script. He worked on the Mirren film, “Elisabeth I.”
The series is expected to arrive on HBO in the fall.
Here’s the synopsis:
Oscar-winner Helen Mirren stars in Catherine the Great as the tumultuous monarch and politician who ruled the Russian empire and transformed its place in the world in the 18th century.