Julianne Moore Leads Scandalous Period Drama, Mary & George
Getting Bridgerton withdrawals as we wait for Season 3? While we can’t say when the mega-hit series will return, we do know that Sky has a new period drama on the cards to get excited for.
Mary & George is set to arrive on Sky Atlantic in the UK and stars Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore in the titular role of Countess Mary Villers, opposite Nicholas Galitzine (Red, White & Royal Blue) as Duke George of Buckingham, her son. The seven-part series tells a scandalous tale of Mary molding George to court King James I and becoming his lover, in order for the two to gain power and influence over the kingdom.
What’s the plot of Mary & George?
Based on the non-fiction book The King’s Assassin, the series begins with Mary and George in humble beginnings, far from the esteemed positions in which they’d end up. The ambitious and steely Mary is intent on grabbing as much power for her son (and herself) as she can and comes up with the idea of George seducing King James, who’s played by Daredevil and Doctor Who star Tony Curran.
She’ll do whatever she can to achieve her goal, by marrying into high-status relationships, bribing political figures and even ordering murders. All the while, George begins to pursue the King and make sure that he becomes both his lover and his most trusted advisor.
Who else stars?
As England and Scotland face turmoil from rioters and a looming Spanish invasion, James is forced to consult with George and, by extension, Mary on everything and they soon become two of the most powerful people in the history of the English court.
The first-look imagery from Sky gives a glimpse of the lavish costumes and designs you’d expect from a period drama and plenty of shots of Moore in action as Countess Mary.
There are a few other big historical names in the cast, including Queen Anne (Trine Dyrholm), Sir Francis Bacon (Mark O’Halloran), and Charles I (Samuel Blenkin).
What else do we know?
Other key cast members include Spooks star Nicola Walker as Elizabeth Hatton and The Hollow Crown’s Simon Russell Beale as Mary’s first husband Sir George Villers.
Sadly we don’t yet have an official trailer or a release date – but Sky has promised that the series is set to hit Sky Atlantic “soon”, so, for now, feast your eyes on the 17th-century fashion shown off in the images.
