Starz has greenlit the series “Becoming Elizabeth,” created and written by playwright and screenwriter Anya Reiss (Spur of the Moment, The Acid Test) who will executive produce with The Forge’s George Ormond (“National Treasure,” “Great Expectations”) and George Faber (“Shameless,” “Generation Kill”).
Reiss will serve as lead writer on the 8-episode season and be joined by an all-female writing team including Emily Ballou (“Traitors,” “Taboo,” “Humans”), Anna Jordan (“Succession”) and Suhayla El- Bushra (“Ackley Bridge,” “Hollyoaks”).
“The world of ‘Becoming Elizabeth’ is visceral and dangerous – judgments are rendered quickly and no one is safe,” said Starz CEO Jeffrey A. Hirsch. “This series explores the Tudor Reign and young Elizabeth, who would become England’s ‘Gloriana’ and one of history’s most dynamic figures, through a new lens which we think viewers will find highly engaging.”
“This is Elizabeth as you’ve never seen her before, a teenager finding her way in a treacherous world, and in Anya’s hands she’s a truly electrifying character,” said George Ormond. “Starz immediately embraced the ambition and vision of the series and we’re thrilled to be collaborating with them on it.”
Reiss added, “Drama seems to skip straight from Henry VIII’s turnstile of wives to an adult white faced Gloriana. Missing out boy kings, religious fanatics, secret affairs and a young orphaned teenager trying to save herself from the vicious scramble to the top. I should have found it hard to relate to 500 year old royalty but Elizabeth lived in dangerous, polarising times and often made terrible hormone-fuelled decisions. I’ve found writing her story a thrilling experience.”
Senior Vice President of Original Programming Karen Bailey is the Starz executive in charge of “Becoming Elizabeth.”
Staff Reporter
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