All the Details on Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine's New STARZ Series 'Mary & George'
Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine
Mary & George, based on Benjamin Woolley’s nonfiction book The King’s Assassin, is the latest brazen historical psychodrama from STARZ. Set in 17th-century England, it’s a tale of political intrigue, seduction and clawing one’s way to power employing whatever means necessary.
For Julianne Moore, who serves as an executive producer as well as stars as Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, the story had a modern twist to it. In a way, it can be compared to HBO's Succession as both series explore people and their ambition, their desires and their relationships.
Not much is known of Mary's early life. It isn't until she's left widowed by Sir George Villiers with four children—Susan, John (the heir), George and Christopher—and is left nearly penniless and begins her struggle to survive and thrive that documentation really begins.
"She had no value, she had responsibility with these children but there's no way she's going to be able to provide for them, unless she married somebody else," Moore told Yahoo! Entertainment. "So she always finds a way to do it. She has to access these relationships in order to survive so, for me, I think it was a really important story to tell, because it's easy to forget. It's easy to forget how few rights women had, and sometimes still have."
Here's everything we know to date:
When will Mary & George premiere?
Mary & George will premiere on April 5, 2024 on STARZ.
Is there a trailer for Mary & George?
Yes, watch the promo for this audacious historical drama about a treacherous mother who teaches her son how to seduce King James I to further her ambitions.
Who is in the cast of Mary & George?
Julianne Moore stars as Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham
Courtesy: STARZ
Nicholas Galitzine stars as George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
Tony Curran as King James I
Laurie Davidson as Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset
Trine Dyrholm as Queen Anne
Tom Victor as John Villers, 1st Viscount Purbeck
Amelia Gething as Frances Coke, Viscountess Purbeck
Sean Gilder as Sir Thomas Compton
Jacob McCarthy as Christopher "Kit" Villers, 1st Earl of Anglese
Alice Grant as Susan Villers, a.k.a Susan Feilding, Countess of Denbigh
Niamh Algar as Sandie
Nicola Walker as Elizabeth Hatton
Samuel Blenkin as King Charles I
Mirren Mack as Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham
Rina Mahoney as Laura Ashcattle
Adrian Rawlins as Sir Edward Coke
Simon Russell Beale as Sir George Villiers
Courtesy: STARZ
What is Mary & George about?
According to the STARZ press release: "Mary & George is inspired by the unbelievable true story of Mary Villiers, who molded her beautiful and charismatic son, George, to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover. Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become the richest, most titled and influential players the English court had ever seen, and the King's most trusted advisors. And with England’s place on the world stage under threat from outside forces and rioters taking to the streets to denounce the King, the stakes could not have been higher.
"Prepared to stop at nothing and armed with her ruthless political steel, Mary married her way up the ranks, bribed politicians, colluded with criminals and clawed her way into the heart of the Establishment, making it her own. Mary & George is a dangerously daring historical psychodrama about an outrageous mother and son who schemed, seduced and killed to conquer the court of England and the bed of King James I."
Moore also told Yahoo! Entertainment, "I think Mary sees George as kind of a proxy for herself. She sees what's possible for him, she wants it for him and she wants it for her. Eventually, of course, he becomes her partner, she sees him that way so it becomes less of a mother, son dynamic and more of like, 'oh, we're in this together and we're going to go as a set through this'. Obviously it is flawed, but I do think that they are characters who do see each other in a sense."
Are Mary & George reviews good or bad?
The series has already premiered in the UK, and The Guardian describes it thus: “[The Villers are] a family so monstrous they make the Borgias look like the Waltons.” Then add, “It is magnificent. It has the narrative rigor of The Favourite, the disciplined panache of The Great, just a dash of The Tudors’ excess and enough sex to keep Bridgerton fans happy too. This is a great combination.”
How many episodes of Mary & George are there?
There will be seven episodes in the limited series, Mary & George.
Courtesy: STARZ
Where did Mary & George film?
The majority of the show was shot in real Jacobean properties in and around London, including Stirling Castle, Hatfield House, The Charterhouse, St Bartholomew the Great and then outside of London, Rothamsted Manor in Harpenden and Ashridge Estate near Berkhamsted, among others.
Curran, who plays King James, told the Welwyn Hatfield Times, "Some of the locations have been phenomenal. We filmed in Stirling Castle, which was amazing. King James actually lived there — and was tutored there. There's a little piece of stone with his name inscribed into it which blew my mind. We've been to Hatfield House and The Charterhouse in east London — where Elizabeth I prepared for her coronation.”
Is Mary & George based on a true story?
Yes, it is inspired by Benjamin Woolley’s nonfiction book The King’s Assassin.
How to watch Mary & George
Mary & George will debut on Friday, April 5 at midnight on the STARZ app. On linear, it will debut on STARZ at 9 p.m. ET/PT in the U.S. and 10 p.m. ET/PT in Canada.
Will Mary & George be available on Netflix?
No, it will air exclusively on STARZ and the STARZ app.
Will Mary & George be available on AMC?
Mary & George was originally set to air on AMC in the U.S. and Canada but was acquired by Starz in November.
