Fans of The Crown and Bridgerton can rest easy, a new Regency-era Netflix original is on the way to fill the void in our hearts—post our Regé-Jean Page heartbreak.
Enter: The Empress.
As we prepare to bid adieu to The Crown following its final two seasons, royal fans are going to look else where for their fix of regal drama. And sure, while the life of the Windsors is a compelling watch, it’s safe to say that the British royals simply can’t compare to those in Austria, particularly the Habsburg family.
Following in the footsteps of the 1955 German-language film, Sissi, The Empress will focus on Elisabeth “Sissi” of Austria, who was the longest reigning Empress in the country’s history, ruling from 1854 to 1898. While the streaming giant has only just started filming, the original series will also follow the trials and tribulations she faced within her own family—including a murder-suicide that is bound to please true crime fans.
Fascinated? Keep reading for everything you need to know about Netflix’s The Empress—from the plot and potential cast members to when it is expected to be released in Australia.
What Is The Plot Of The Empress?
Netflix’s The Empress will look at the life of Elisabeth as the longest reigning Empress in the country’s history, from her time on the throne to her life behind closed doors. However, once she was wed to Emperor Franz Joseph I, she was unceremoniously thrown into the spotlight which saw her face endless difficulties between her strained relationship, the tragic death of one of her children and struggles with her mother-in-law, Archduchess Sophie.
A six-part series, the Netflix original is also expected to touch on the ‘Mayerling Incident’ which saw her son, Crown Prince Rudolf, and his mistress, Mary Vetsera, tragically killed in a murder-suicide.
As per the streaming giant, a synopsis for The Empress reads: “Elisabeth is told as a young woman ahead of her time, rebelling against the rigid rules of the 19th century and the court. She meets Franz, a multi-layered ruler with fractures who played a major role in shaping modern European history”.
“Against the backdrop of jealousy, intrigue and power struggles behind the scenes of the Habsburg court—and the emerging question of freedom of the people—the audience is taken into a glittering illusory world, in which a young Sisi must fight for her place at court, as well as the right to be the figurehead of an ailing empire.”
Is There A Trailer For The Empress?
While filming is still in its early days, there is no sign of a trailer for the Netflix original. However, be sure to keep your eyes peeled here for when the trailer does drop, presumably later this year or early into next.
Who Is Cast In The Empress?
Since details on the upcoming series are still light, there is still no news on the line-up who will sign onto the project.
As a matter of fact, the Empress’ history has already been retold in the 1955 eponymously titled film, Sissi, that saw an array of famous faces lead the film. Leading the cast was Romy Schneider (The Swimming Pool), who famously played the Empress and Karlheinz Böhm (Peeping Tom) as Franz.
When Can We Watch The Empress In Australia?
As filming for The Empress is only just starting, Netflix’s latest royal drama likely won’t hit our screens until 2022 at the earliest. Until then, you can rest assured that we’ll be spending that time rewatching Bridgerton.
