The star is heading for Jacobean England in an eight-part limited series. 

Sky and US network AMC have announced that Julianne Moore will star in Mary & George. The show, set in the Jacobean era, inspired by Benjamin Woolley’s non-fiction book The King’s Assassin.

The show is described as “… a deliciously dangerous eight-part limited series based on the true story of  Mary Villiers, who moulded her beautiful 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 mother and son England had ever seen.”

An untold story on screen

Julianne Moore said:

“Mary Villiers was a woman who through her own actions rose to become a powerful and influential figure in Jacobean London. It’s a daunting but exhilarating challenge to bring her to life on screen.”

Writer DC Moore adds:

“Since I first read about Mary Villiers’ life – and all she achieved with her son, George – I’ve been obsessed with bringing this story to the screen. Between King James’ often-overlooked love and lust for men, Mary’s extraordinary rise as a woman in a man’s world, and George’s (many, many) sexual and political conquests, this is a profoundly rich, and, as yet entirely untold on screen, story, about a pair of ‘commoners’ who conquered all before them.” 

Mary & George comes from Hera Pictures in association with Sky Studios and is written by DC Moore (Killing Eve, Temple). The show’s lead director is Oliver Hermanus (Living). Moore and Hermanus executive produce alongside Liza Marshall of Hera Pictures and Sam Hoyle for Sky Studios.

The series begins filming in early 2023 and should debut later next year. In the UK, Ireland, Germany and Italy it should appear on Sky Atlantic. AMC Networks will release the series in U.S, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India.

We’ll keep you posted on Mary & George.