New Netflix drama could be America's answer to The Crown
Fans of a good ol' historical drama better strap themselves in, because the network behind BAFTA-winning boxset The Crown is back with a riveting new project - this time, set almost 5,000 miles west, across the Atlantic.
Over the years, Netflix has garnered a reputation as a provider of high-quality, award-winning costume dramas, particularly with regard to prestige, big budgets, and international reach.
Whilst swaying more towards a period piece rather than historical accuracy, the debut instalment of the Regency series Bridgerton was watched by 82 million households in its first week, with the second series breaking a record for a Netflix English-language series.
Its spin-off, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, was equally impressive, amassing almost 150 million hours of viewing time across the globe within its first week.
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The Empress, a German-language drama released in 2022 and based on the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, is also considered one of the streamer's biggest historical successes, illustrating how much this genre is loved around the world.
But when it comes to the 'top dog' of historical dramas, The Crown well and truly takes the cake, having been praised across the board for its acting, directing, writing, cinematography, and production value.
Whilst its historical accuracy has sometimes been called into question, the TV series has won a horde of awards, including an Emmy and two Golden Globes.
As we say, however, telly bosses have this week been promoting a brand new project that'll fit in comfortably with this genre, with a US-based series reportedly inspired by The Crown set to land on Netflix in the coming weeks.
And like its Great British counterpart, it'll be set in the past, kicking off with the 1930s.
According to the streaming service's editorial partner, Tudum, the show will focus on a handful of America's most iconic families, telling the tale of their rise to prosperity, biggest controversies, and subsequent falls from grace.
More specifically, it'll make the Kennedys centre-stage, being loosely inspired by Fredrik Logevall's 2020 biography JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956.
Apparently, Netflix has already green-lit the debut instalment, which will focus on late business mogul and US Ambassador Joseph Kennedy Sr.'s deadly level of ambition, which, despite resulting in tragedy, set the political precedent for his globally recognised descendants.
It's a story of love, rivalry, heartache, and determination, following the unlikely success of Joe, his wife Rosa, and their nine children, with a particular focus on their trouble-causing second son, Jack.
Tudum insiders revealed this week that German-Irish actor Michael Fassbender will play the infamous Kennedy family patriarch.
Other than the double Oscar-nominee, however, no other stars have yet been revealed.
Sam Shaw, the incoming show's executive producer, told Tudum: "The story of the Kennedys is the closest we have to American mythology — somewhere between Shakespeare and The Bold and the Beautiful.
"But Fredrik Logevall’s stunning, nuanced biography pulls a veil on the human strivings and burdens behind the myth, revealing as much about our present moment, how we got here and where we’re going, as about the Kennedys themselves."
He added: "I'm thrilled to be able to explore this saga of a family and a world in transition with Eric Roth, Thomas Vinterberg and our incredible band of artists and partners, at a moment when our past feels urgently present."
Topics: Netflix, TV And Film, Entertainment
Rhianna Benson