Leonie Frieda Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

The Serpent Queen season two is on the way!

Starz has renewed The Serpent Queen for an eight-episode second season ahead of the drama’s freshman finale airing on Sunday.

Caroline Framke Chief TV Critic If you were to see the trailer or basically any promotional material for “The Serpent Queen,” Starz’s new series about the infamous life of one Catherine de Medici, you’d be forgiven for assuming it’s a showcase for Samantha Morton in a historical drama with modern touches, following in the footsteps of her recent turn in “Harlots.” Even its arresting opening credits sequence, which sees Morton stride to a throne to a heavy guitar lick as snakes slither out and toward her, suggests a show preoccupied with being Edgy and Different — a show that would consider itself to be not like Starz’s many other historical drama girls, as it were.   However: as adapted from Leonie Frieda’s biography by Justin Haythe, this perception proves to be only somewhat the case. In fact, the first few episodes of “The Serpent Queen” — which premieres Sunday, Sept. 11 — feature Morton sparingly, with an elder Catherine telling the story of how she came to France as a teenager (played by Liv Hill) to a spirited maid (Sennia Nanua), in whom she sees a kindred spirit. In truth, Morton should only barely be considered the show’s lead until the fourth episode, which moves Catherine’s flashbacks far enough forward in time that she can safely assume the role in both the past and present, as she begins to square off against her formidable daughter-in-law, Mary Queen of Scots (Antonia Clarke). 

EXCLUSIVE: Beth Goddard (Manhunt) is set as a series regular opposite Samantha Morton in Starz’s The Serpent Queen, an eight-part period drama about Catherine de Medici. Additionally, Alex Heath (Home) recurs in the series from writer and executive producer Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road), Francis Lawrence & Erwin Stoff. Production is underway in France.

EXCLUSIVE: After a worldwide talent search, Sennia Nanua has been cast as a lead opposite Samantha Morton in Starz’s The Serpent Queen, an eight-part period drama about Catherine de Medici, from writer and executive producer Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road), Francis Lawrence & Erwin Stoff. Production is underway in France.

EXCLUSIVE: Raza Jaffrey has just joined the cast of The Serpent Queen in the role of Francois Guise. He starts work immediately.

Starz has cast Ray Panthaki in its upcoming Catherine De Medici drama series The Serpent Queen. He will act alongside Samantha Morton, who stars as the monarch.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSamantha Morton has been cast in the lead role of the Starz drama series “The Serpent Queen.”Morton will star as Catherine de Medici. Based on the book “Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France” by Leonie Frieda, the eight-episode series is described as an account of one of the most influential women ever to wear a crown.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterStarz has ordered the period drama series “The Serpent Queen,” based on the life of Catherine de Medici.The eight-episode series is based on the book “Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France” by Leonie Frieda. Justin Haythe will write and executive produce the series, with Francis Lawrence and Erwin Stoff also executive producing.

Starz continues to double down on European royalty with its latest series order – an eight-part drama about Catherine de Medici.