Starz knows you love a historical drama… and we’re not just talking Outlander. If you’re looking to dive into the world of European monarchies from centuries past, Starz is the place to be. The White Queen, The White Princess, The Spanish Princess… and up next, The Serpent Queen.

The eight episode series is based on the book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda. It follows the story of one of the most powerful and longest-serving rulers in French history. Starz describes the series as “a historical drama with edge.”

Check out the trailer for The Serpent Queen below.

The Serpent Queen stars BAFTA and Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Samantha Morton (Minority Report, Walking Dead).

Here’s the synopsis from Starz:

The Serpent Queen puts a contemporary spin on conventional storytelling to tell the tale of Catherine de Medici’s (Morton) rise to power. In the series premiere, “Medici Bitch,” Catherine’s tale unfolds through flashbacks. She defends her actions and imparts the lessons she’s learned to her new servant confident, Rahima (Sennia Nanua). At 14, the young, orphaned Catherine (Liv Hill) marries into the 16th-century French court. Despite her commoner status, her uncle Pope Clement (Charles Dance), has negotiated a large dowry and a geopolitical alliance in return for the union, and with it comes the expectation of many heirs. However, on her wedding night, Catherine learns that her new husband is in love with Diane de Poitiers (Ludivine Sagnier), a beautiful lady-in-waiting twice his age. 

With her future suddenly uncertain and with little hope of conceiving, Catherine must quickly learn who she can trust – both within her personal entourage of courtiers and the members of the royal court – while outmaneuvering anyone who underestimates her determination to survive at any cost. 

The series also stars Colm Meaney, Kiruna Stamell, Barry Atsma, Alex Heath, Amrita Acharia, Enzo Cilenti, Antonia Clarke, Adam Garcia, Beth Goddard, Raza Jaffrey, Ray Panthaki, Nicholas Burns, Danny Kirrane, and Rupert Everett.

The Serpent Queen on Starz

The Serpent Queen comes from writer and executive producer Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road, Red Sparrow, The Lone Ranger). Stacie Passon (Transparent, Dickinson, Billions) directs multiple episodes and serves as an executive producer.

The series premieres Sunday, September 11 at 8pm on Starz, and will arrive on the Starz app and streaming at midnight.

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