Starz continues to celebrate strong women with Catherine de Medici drama

Starz is upping the ante on limited series about famous women in history with The Serpent Queen, an eight-episode series about Catherine de Medici based on Leonie Frieda’s book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France.

Frieda’s book was first published in 2005 and is the product of meticulous research, including a treasure trove of private letters, about the orphan who goes on to rule France for half a century.

Here’s the synopsis of the planned series from Starz:

"Considered an immigrant, common and plain, Catherine de Medici is married into the 16th century French court as an orphaned teenager expected to bring a fortune in dowry and produce many heirs, only to discover that her husband is in love with an older woman, her dowry is unpaid and she’s unable to conceive. Yet, only with her intelligence and determination, she manages to keep her marriage alive and masters the blood sport that is the monarchy better than anyone else, ruling France for 50 years."

Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road) will serve as writer and executive producer along with fellow executive producers Frances Lawrence and Erwin Stoff. The series, which will consist of eight episodes, has already been given straight-to-series status in an effort to begin work quickly.

Haythe is excited to take on this project, noting that Catherine de Medici “defies convention” and “her story has been truly exciting as she is a very complex leading character who becomes a skilled ruler, battling extraordinary political and personal odds throughout her reign.”

Starz goes all-in with series based on strong and talented women in history

In a time when competition for eyeballs is so great among the countless streaming services and on-demand programming offered through individual networks, Starz is carving out a niche for itself with yet another limited series that focuses on a strong woman who was ahead of her time.

Starz, the cable network known for Outlander, has already produced several high-power dramas about women in power such as The Spanish Princess, The White Queen and The White Princess.

In an age where seeking out new intellectual property for creative development has become the norm, Starz is turning to history books for “new” source material. It’s a brilliant move, particularly when scholars like Frieda have already done the heavy-hitting research.

No cast has been attached to The Serpent Queen as yet, and the series currently has no planned release date.