Versailles (Canal+)

“‘Versailles’ will explore the mind of Louis XIV who succeeded in imposing himself as a monarch at a very young age, and we’ll reveal how the trauma he experienced during the Fronde rebellion shaped his psyche and many of the decisions he took as a leader,” said Fabrice de la Patellière, head of French drama and co-productions at Canal Plus.

Series, comprising 10 one-hour episodes, opens in 1667. Louis is 28 years old and the sole commander of his kingdom following his mother’s death. Burdened by insecurity brought on memories of his childhood trauma, a bitter coup attempt known as ‘the Fronde,’ he creates a trap at Versailles to ensnares and disempowers the nobles who threaten him.

The series has already sparked the interest of major networks – such as BBC2 and ZDF — and pay TV channels in the U.K. , Germany and in the U.S., among other territories.

The cast will soon be announced and will comprise mostly British or North American actors, said de la Patelliere, who added that the critical and commercial success of original programming like the mini-series “Carlos,” “Braquo” and most recently “The Returned” has given the paybox credibility to take on highly ambitious projects and international partners.

Sarah Winter will play Louise de la Vallière, mistress of Louis XIV, one of the leading roles in Versailles, currently filming a 10-episode first season expected to première in the fall of 2015 on Canal+.

Sarah Winter is a newcomer, though she's done some stage work according to her résumé.

Weirdly enough, she recently played Yvette in the season finale of Reign (and she'll return for episode 2.01), which is another period drama set in the French court — though there's a hundred years between the reigns of François II (spoiler alert (?): 1558-1560) and Louis XIV (1661-1715).

Before Reign, the CW also wanted her in 2013 for The Selection (a failed Hunger-Games-lite pilot), so you know she's pretty talented. You can learn more about Versailles here.

Other exciting casting news will probably arrive in the next few weeks as the first 2 episodes are being shot. Would be nice to cast some French actors (who speak English, obviously), just in case the people in the French court feel like speaking French once in a while (though given her being cast in Reign and now in Versailles, perhaps Winter has at least some notions (not that I'm assuming a CW show has lots of subtitles)... we'll see).

George Blagden to play King Louis XIV in new series VERSAILLES

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George Blagden will be starring as the lead in the new series, Versailles, a French production (dir. Jalil Lespert), that it is an English-language historical drama skein penned by Simon Mirren (“Without a Trace”) and David Wolstencroft (“Spooks”). Shooting began last week in Paris and will continue for the next six months around the city and also on location at Versailles itself.

Along with George, the show is supported by a very international cast that also includes Alexander Vlahos (Merlin and Privates) in the role of SIR, the King’s brother; Dominique Blanc interpreter ANNE OF AUSTRIA and Amira Casar, BEATRICE, a courtesan.

Other cast includes Tygh Runyan, Stuart Bowman, Noémie Schmidt, Evan Williams, Anna Brewster, Sarah Winter, Anatole Taubman, Lizzie Brocheré, Elisa Lasowski, Maddison Jaizani, Peter Hudson, and Gilly Gilchrist.

The show is produced by Capa Drama, and co-produced by Zodiak, which also reps international sales (excluding Canada), French pay TV giant Canal Plus and Canadian shingle Incendo.

Mirren and Wolstencroft will act as showrunners and write five episodes of the series. The pair will be serve as executive producers along with Anne Thomopoulos (“Rome”).

“Louis XIV didn’t just reinvent what it meant to be a King. In building Versailles he created the world’s first global brand. This is a contemporary story of power, betrayal, and family that just so happens to be set in the 17th century,” said Mirren and Wolstencroft.

Lespert will direct the first two episodes of the series. Three other directors will join the show.

“‘Versailles’ will explore the mind of Louis XIV who succeeded in imposing himself as a monarch at a very young age, and we’ll reveal how the trauma he experienced during the Fronde rebellion shaped his psyche and many of the decisions he took as a leader,” said Fabrice de la Patellière, head of French drama and co-productions at Canal Plus.

“We’re not looking to replicate ‘The Tudors’ or ‘Borgia’ and we don’t either want it to be a traditional historical series: it will be rock and roll, vibrant, sexy notably because the court was made up of young people in their 30’s,” claimed de la Patelliere.

Series, comprising 10 one-hour episodes, opens in 1667. Louis is 28 years old and the sole commander of his kingdom following his mother’s death. Burdened by insecurity brought on memories of his childhood trauma, a bitter coup attempt known as ‘the Fronde,’ he creates a trap at Versailles to ensnares and disempowers the nobles who threaten him.

The first season sees Louis evolve from a young King into an absolute Monarch, a 17th century rockstar with the mind of Machiavelli.

The show also delves into Louis XIV’s ambivalent relationship with his younger brother, an openly gay warrior who was known as Monsieur, and the king’s affair with his sister-in-law, Henrietta of England, explained Claude Chelli, head of Capa Drama.

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George Blagden è uno dei Misérables, sì?

Non mi piace Anne ma ormai mi piace solo Anne dei Musketeers completa di Aramis LOL