A must for “Bridgerton” fans
Emilia Schüle as “Marie-Antoinette” – German start date for historical drama is set
Emilia Schüle at the PBS ‘Marie Antoinette’ panel during the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Huntington Hotel. In the series she embodies the main character.
© Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/dpa
“Ku’damm” star Emilia Schüle plays the leading role in the international series “Marie-Antoinette”. One year after the first publication, the historical drama now also has a start date for Germany. What you need to know about the series.
Attention “Bridgerton” fans: On June 21, 2023 “Marie-Antoinette” starts with “Ku’damm” actress Emilia Schüle in the leading role in Germany.
The historical drama tells the story of the notorious last queen of France, who ruled the country alongside Louis XVI from 1774. reigned. The first season premiered in France in October 2022. Since then, the series has been successfully launched in other countries such as England, the USA and Australia.
feminism and social criticism
Because the co-production of the British broadcaster “BBC Two” and the French broadcaster “Canal+” hits the nerve that made the Netflix series “Bridgerton” and its spin-off “Queen Charlotte” so successful. It is about the life of a royal – here French – protagonist, which is told full of feminism and a socially critical view against the background of true events.
Because Marie Antoinette, who came from the Austrian imperial family, was married at the tender age of 14 to the Dauphin of France, who became Louis XVI a few years later. will be the last king before the revolution. As she tries to find her place at court and live up to her role as a would-be queen, she must contend with burdens like her father-in-law’s sexual harassment.
The Trauma of Marie Antoinette
And the young girl doesn’t like that at all. She is rebellious, really stirs up the French court and is difficult to tame. The message of the series: The strength of Marie-Antoinette, who radiates feminism and emancipation with her unconditional will and her stubbornness towards social ideals.
But even if Marie-Antoinette seems so strong, she has to contend with numerous traumata – in addition to the sexual harassment on the part of the king. Since her first child with Louis XVI. was only born eight years after their marriage, negative rumors about the relationship between the two dominated the public discourse. People rumored that she was infertile and responsible for this faux pas herself. Historians, on the other hand, are of the opinion that Louis XVI. herself refused to consummate the act of marriage to Marie-Antoinette. The whole thing is dramatic, since the royal successor was the prerequisite for finally strengthening the alliance between Austria and France.
“I saw a fighter in her”
In addition, there are countless – not exactly positive – myths and rumors about the existence of the last French queen. She is said to have been wasteful, provocative and also lazy.
Deborah Davis, who wrote the screenplay for the historical drama “The Favourite” and is also responsible for “Marie-Antoinette”, says to the trade journal “Variety” about the character of the main character: “I saw a fighter in her.” It gave her great pleasure to be able to accompany her through “each of her challenges”.
Historical drama with “Bridgerton” flair
She says: “Marie-Antoinette arrived like a drugged rabbit as a fourteen-and-a-half-year-old girl… everyone stared and wondered, ‘Who is this rebellious little Austrian Archduchess?'”. From the outset, she had “not even had the slightest chance” of securing the favor of the French population. “But Marie-Antoinette came from a very long line of extremely strong-willed, spirited women – she did the same,” Davis continues.
Although “Marie-Antoinette” comes from a different production house, it can keep up with “Bridgerton” and “Queen Charlotte” in terms of costumes and stage design. The production team behind “Marie-Antoinette” is the same as the hit series “Versailles”.
Emilia Schüle: 400 hours of styling
All Marie-Antoinette dresses are handmade, mostly by renowned luxury fashion brands such as Chanel. And plenty of time was also invested in the styling of the French queen. In an Instagram post, Schuele wrote: “Here’s a little appreciation for the hair department! I was just trying to count, I must have spent about 400 hours in the chair just to get my hair done.”
Filming took place at the Château de Fontainebleau, at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte and in Versailles, among other places. Parts of the royal palace of Versailles were also specially recreated in a production studio in order to make the scenery of the historical drama as authentic as possible.
“Marie-Antoinette” will be streamed on June 21, 2023 in Germany on Disney+.
Source: “Variety”