Marie Antoinette | Preview (BBC Two)

Marie Antoinette, a new drama about the rebellious French Queen from The Favourite writer Deborah Davis. Marie Antoinette is coming to BBC Two on 29 December at 9pm, with all episodes available immediately on BBC iPlayer from the same date.

The eight-part series stars Emilia Schüle in the leading role, alongside James Purefoy, Louis Cunningham, Jack Archer, Jasmine Blackborow and Gaïa Weiss, and follows Marie Antoinette’s arrival at Versailles as she endeavours to stamp her vision on the French Court.

Marie Antoinette (Emilia Schüle) is just fourteen when she’s forced to leave Austria to marry the Dauphin (Louis Cunningham). She must produce an heir to secure the alliance between France and Austria, but she’s as unprepared for her job as her awkward teenage husband.

How will this free spirit react to Versailles with its ridiculous rules of etiquette? Embodying a sense of personal freedom, individuality and self-determination beyond her times, Marie Antoinette morphs into a teenage rebel determined to rebuild the dark and manipulative world of Versailles in her own image.

Marie Antoinette is created, written and executive produced by Deborah Davis (The Favourite), directed by Pete Travis (Cold Feet, Bloodlands, Endgame) and Geoffrey Enthoven (Come as You Are) and executive produced by Claude Chelli, Stéphanie Chartreux and Margaux Balsan for Canal+, Capa Drama, Banijay Studios France and Les Gens. The costumes were created by award-winning Madeline Fontaine (Jackie) and Marie Frémont.

Marie Antoinette is coming to BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on 29 December, and is distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.