Marie Antoinette season 2 is on its way very soon, with Emilia Schüle returning as the last queen of France.
Teasing the new series, the makers say: "At the height of their power, while Marie Antoinette and Louis face an unprecedented financial crisis, the incessant attacks of Provence and Chartres against the royal couple stir up the hatred of the nobles while disastrous consequences are looming with the infamous Affair of the Diamond Necklace incident."
The first series of the lavish costume drama was a huge hit so it's no surprise we are heading back to the opulence of the French court.
Marie Antoinette is remembered by history as an extravagant, vain queen who apparently uttered the words "let them eat cake" when she heard her subjects couldn't afford to buy bread. However, Emilia, who plays the rebel queen, has said about the show. "We all know how it ends, but it’s a new take on her life".
Fans of the first series will recall that the drama largely paints Marie in a sympathetic light while also highlighting her naivety about the world; hardly surprising given she arrived at the French court aged just 14. Although throughout the first season, she is seen learning about the ways of the French court, she never seems to completely understand quite how devious her rivals can be.
Louis Cunningham (Bridgerton) is also back as the king of France, Louis XVI.
Here's everything we know about the new eight-part series…
Marie Antoinette season 2 release date
Marie Antoinette season 2 will begin on Thursday, May 8, on BBC Two at 9.00 pm. If you can't wait for the episodes to air weekly, the whole series will be available from May 8 as a box set on BBC iPlayer.
Please note you can also watch all of the first series on BBC iPlayer (see our best BBC dramas guide for more shows to enjoy).
Marie Antoinette season 2 was released in the US on Sunday, March 23, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app.
We're hoping UK viewers won't have to wait too much longer before it airs on BBC One.
Please note you can watch all the first series on BBC iPlayer (see our best BBC dramas guide for more shows to enjoy).
What’s the plot?
The young royal couple will be seen at the height of their power but the pair face a financial crisis. To make matters worse, Marie is embroiled in a dangerous scandal when she's wrongly accused of essentially stealing a diamond necklace.
New character Jeanne de Valois, a ruthless conwoman, is determined to make her fortune in the courts of Versailles. So, Jeanne conjures up a plot to steal the world’s most expensive diamond necklace and blame it on the luxury-loving Marie Antoinette.
The Affair of the Diamond Necklace coupled with previous scandals and gossip, plus the attacks by Provence and Chartres, threaten to bring the monarchy down as revolt stirs in France.
What happens in episode 1?
It is 1783, and the queen elevates Yolande, scandalising some, while a female thief infiltrates the palace. Elsewhere, the King's brother fraternises with shameless Chartres during a bitter winter.
Cast
Emilia Schüle is back as Marie alongside Louis Cunningham as king of France, Louis XVI. Also back is Call the Midwife and The Bay star Jack Archer as Louis' brother Provence.
Skins star Freya Mavor joins as Jeanne Le Motte, the con artist at the centre of the queen’s downfall.
Freya says: "Jeanne is very much someone who is outside of Versailles who is scheming how to make her way inside that circle and to be able to have control and influence there. She is a total fantasist. She's come from an intensely brutal, poor and traumatic background which has made her incredibly decisive and ruthless.
"She will perform, lie and manipulate to get herself where she wants to be. The absolute audacity and her being a woman at that time and doing what she did with literally no remorse or care about what anyone thought is quite astonishing."
Is there a trailer?
Yes, one has finally arrived...
