‘Poldark’ star’s Leonardo da Vinci drama finally has a US premiere date

Over a year after it premiered in Europe, American viewers can at last watch Leonardo soon.

Co-created by Vienna Blood writer Steve Thompson, the historical period drama tells the story of Italian inventor, scientist, and artist Leonardo da Vinci.

Leading the cast as da Vinci is Irish actor Aidan Turner, who you’ll recognise from Poldark, Being Human, and The Hobbit.

Leonardo debuted in Italy way back in March 2021, then arrived in the UK the following month, but was left without a US broadcaster until it was picked up by The CW last autumn.

We can now confirm that the eight-part first season will premiere in the US this summer!

Leonardo will air on Tuesday nights at 8pm on The CW from 16th August.

The show has been beset by delays since its inception, with Season 1 originally set to premiere in 2020, marking the 500th anniversary of da Vinci’s death, before filming was interrupted by Covid lockdowns.

Watch the trailer:

 

Alongside Aidan Turner, the cast also includes Giancarlo Giannini (Casino Royale) as da Vinci’s master Andrea del Verrocchio, Matilda De Angelis (The Undoing) as his muse Caterina da Cremona, Carlos Cuevas (Merlì) as Leonardo’s apprentice and trusted friend Salaì, James D’Arcy (Homeland) as Ludovico Sforza Duke of Milan, and Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor) as a young detective, Stefano Giraldi.

It was confirmed last summer that Leonardo had been renewed for a second season, with Turner reprising his role as da Vinci.

Season 2 will apparently follow Leonardo during his time in Rome, encountering other talents of the day such as Raphael and Michelangelo.

There’s also been talk of a spin-off series based around Michelangelo, exploring the creation of the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel.

Aidan Turner is best known for playing Ross Poldark in all five seasons of the BBC’s hit drama Poldark.

Next up, the 39-year-old star is appearing in a new TV thriller from the makers of Vigil and The Bletchley Circle.

Poldark is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.