Will There Be a Season 3 of ‘The Spanish Princess’? Starz Is Planning a New Series Based on the Life of Another Famous Queen
Get ready to say goodbye to Queen Catherine (Charlotte Hope). The Spanish Princess Season 2 ends Nov. 29, and Starz has indicated it has no plans to bring the show back for a third season. When a second installment of the limited series focusing on the early life of Catherine of Aragon and her relationship with Henry VIII (Ruairi O’Connor) was announced, the network made it clear it would be the conclusion of Catherine’s story.
While we may not see more of Catherine, Starz isn’t giving up on royals. It’s planning a new series based on the life of another famous queen.
New Starz series will focus on Eleanor of Aquitaine
So far, Starz has produced three series about the women of the English royal family during the Wars of the Roses and the early years of the Tudor dynasty. The White Queen focused on Elizabeth Woodville, the wife of Edward IV; Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII; and Anne Neville, the wife of Richard III. The White Princess concentrated on the marriage of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII. The Spanish Princess was all about Catherine, the future ex-wife of Henry VIII. All three were based on historical novels by Philippa Gregory.
For its next deep dive into royal intrigue and drama, Starz will look further back in time. The network plans a series inspired by the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was queen consort of both France and England in the 12th century. The as-yet-untitled show will be based on Alison Weir’s 1999 biography of Eleanor and its companion novel Captive Queen.
“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to bring Eleanor’s story to life — the drama and adventures she experienced are truly epic,” Susie Conklin, who will serve as executive producer and writer for the series, said in a statement. “I’m also captivated at how a woman who lived over 800 years ago can be so strikingly modern. She’s determined to live her life on her own terms, and the way she goes about that are extraordinary.”
Katharine Hepburn won an Academy Award in 1968 for playing Eleanor in the film The Lion in Winter.
Future Starz shows will focus on other ‘extraordinary women of history’
In addition to the upcoming Eleanor of Aquitaine series, Starz says it is planning a slate of shows inspired by other “extraordinary women of history.”
“This slate of series will focus on lesser known but undeniably exceptional female historical figures while continuing the exploration of fierce characters in history,” said Christina Davis, president of programming for Starz. “Alison Weir’s novels are the perfect jumping off point for this collection of series from Playground, who are known for their sophisticated storytelling.”
As of now, there’s no word on what other women might be the subject of future Starz series.
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