‘Mary & George’ preview: King James I era drama series reveals first pics
Sky has released some beautiful images from Mary & George!
The upcoming British period drama sees Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore ( The Hours, Still Alice) bring to life the extraordinary true story of Mary Villiers.
Mary & George is described as “a dangerously daring historical psychodrama about an outrageous mother and son who schemed, seduced and killed to conquer the court of England and the bed of King James I.”
AMC and Sky Atlantic’s seven-part limited series began filming earlier this year, directed by Oliver Hermanus, who made Bill Nighty’s Living.
Alongside Julianna Moore as Mary Villiers, the show stars Nicholas Galitzine (Cinderella) as her son George Villiers.
They’re joined by one of our favourite actresses, Nicola Walker, in a rare period drama role for her!
The Last Tango in Halifax and Unforgotten star is playing Lady Hatton.
Simon Russell Beale (The Death of Stalin, Spooks) plays Sir George Villiers, with Niamh Algar (The Wonder) as Sandie, Trine Dyrholm (Queen Of Hearts) as Queen Anne, Sean Gilder (Sherwood) as Sir Thomas Compton, and Adrian Rawlins (Chernobyl) as Sir Edward Coke.
Also appearing are Mark O’Halloran (The Virtues) as Sir Francis Bacon, Laurie Davidson (Guilty Party) as Somerset, Samuel Blenkin (The Witcher: Blood Origin) as Prince Charles, Jacob McCarthy (SAS Rogue Heroes) as Kit Villiers, Tom Victor (Consent) as John Villiers, Alice Grant (Anthem at Almeida Theatre) as Susan Villiers, Amelia Gething (Emily) as Frances Coke, Mirren Mack (The Nest) as Katherine Manners, and Rina Mahoney (Happy Valley) as Laura Ashcattle.
Playing King James I is Scottish actor Tony Curran, who you may recognise from Outlaw King, Doctor Who, and recent BBC drama Mayflies.
Written by playwright and Killing Eve writer DC Moore, the series is based on Benjamin Woolley’s non-fiction book The King’s Assassin.
“Mary & George is inspired by the unbelievable true story of Mary Villiers, who moulded her beautiful and charismatic son, George, to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover,” the official synopsis reveals.
“Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become the richest, most titled and influential players the English court had ever seen, and the King’s most trusted advisors.
“And with England’s place on the world stage under threat from a Spanish invasion and rioters taking to the streets to denounce the King, the stakes could not have been higher.
“Prepared to stop at nothing and armed with her ruthless political steel, Mary married her way up the ranks, bribed politicians, colluded with criminals and clawed her way into the heart of the Establishment, making it her own.”
Mary & George will air on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW in the UK and Ireland.
In the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India, it’ll be on AMC.
We don’t have a release date just yet, but Sky recently said the series is “coming soon” so we expect it to premiere later in 2023.
Benjamin Woolley’s book The King’s Assassin is available on Amazon.