Russian history gets funny in the trailer for The Great with Elle Fanning

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Ah, there's nothing like the smell of an aristocracy on fire, and thanks to Hulu's THE GREAT, seventeenth century Russia is about to become the subject of a delightfully-clever and biting roast!

THE GREAT is a satirical, 10-episode comedic drama about the rise of Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) from outsider to the longest reigning female ruler in Russia's history. Season One is a fictionalized, fun and anachronistic story of an idealistic, romantic young girl, who arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to the mercurial Emperor Peter (Nicholas Hoult). Hoping for love and sunshine, she finds instead a dangerous, depraved, backward world that she resolves to change. All she has to do is kill her husband, beat the church, baffle the military and get the court onside. A very modern story about the past which encompasses the many roles she played over her lifetime as lover, teacher, ruler, friend, and fighter. Incorporating historical facts occasionally, the series stars Elle Fanning as Catherine, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, Gwilym Lee, Charity Wakefield, Douglas Hodge, Sacha Dhawan, Sebastian de Souza, Bayo Gbadamosi and Belinda Bromilow.

At the helm of THE GREAT is Tony McNamara, who previously co-wrote THE FAVOURITE with Deborah Davis. McNamara is taking on a much larger role for THE GREAT, being the project's creator, writer, and executive producer. Obviously, McNamara is no stranger to satire, which THE GREAT looks to have in spades.

Season 1 of THE GREAT will premiere May 15 on Hulu.