Emmy Award-winning Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife, ER) is heading back to the 19th century, as MGM+ has greenlit ‘The American Heiress’, an eight-part romantic comedy of manners from Victoria creator Daisy Goodwin. Based on Goodwin’s bestselling novel, the series promises a delicious mixture of romance, scandal, class politics and extremely wealthy Americans attempting to navigate the British aristocracy.
Set in 1893, the story follows Cora Cash, a beautiful and spirited young American heiress whose formidable mother, Isabella Cash (played by Margulies), has brought her to England in search of the one thing her considerable fortune cannot buy back home: an aristocratic title.
Cora is what society calls a “dollar princess”, one of the wealthy American women whose fortunes made them attractive marriage prospects for cash-strapped British aristocrats. Unfortunately for her mother, Cora already believes herself to be in love with Teddy, an American artist who doesn’t come with a dukedom attached.
Things become considerably more complicated when a hunting accident leaves Cora unconscious, and she awakens in Lulworth Castle, home of the 12th Duke of Wareham. Suddenly, everything she thought she knew about love, duty and her future is thrown into question.
As Cora attempts to navigate the morally ambiguous world of Victorian high society, where everyone seems to understand the rules except her, Isabella encounters a formidable rival of her own in the Double Duchess, a woman who apparently goes through dukedoms like other people go through gloves.
Will Cora follow her heart or bow to the expectations of her new aristocratic surroundings? And can an American heiress ever truly find her place among the British upper classes?
The series comes from Daisy Goodwin, who previously created the ITV period drama ‘Victoria’, starring Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who). Goodwin serves as writer, showrunner and executive producer, bringing her particular knack for historical romance and the complicated relationships between wealth, status and power to another lavish period setting.
“‘The American Heiress’ is a story about mothers and daughters, old society obligation and new world entitlement, and the search for meaning in a world distorted by money,” said Goodwin. “I hope it will make viewers laugh, think, and swoon. I am a history nerd, but I am also a fan of the Hollywood golden age—think Consuelo Vanderbilt meets Rebecca! I am beyond excited to be working with Julianna Margulies who embodies the majesty and frustration of Isabella Cash.”
Margulies, of course, is no stranger to playing formidable women, having spent seven seasons as Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife, following her breakthrough role as Carol Hathaway in ER. More recently, she appeared in The Morning Show and is also set to join the third and final season of Paradise. As Isabella Cash, she’ll be taking that commanding screen presence into a world where social standing is everything, and a well-placed marriage can be worth considerably more than a fortune.
Michael Wright, global head of MGM+, describes the new series as a perfect fit for the network’s growing slate of premium dramas.
“The American Heiress is a seductive mix of captivating characters, old world class politics, and romantic ambition,” said Wright. “Daisy Goodwin is a master at crafting entertaining and smart stories full of fascinating people and high stakes, and this show is Daisy at her best. Having Julianna Margulies lead this amazing cast with her unique strength, intelligence and charm is ideal. Together with producer Stacey Snider, this team makes The American Heiress a perfect complement to the MGM+ brand of classic Hollywood storytelling for a modern audience.”
The series is a co-production between Fifth Season and MGM+ Studios, with Fifth Season also handling international distribution. Goodwin and Margulies serve as executive producers alongside FilmNation Entertainment’s chief creative officer Stacey Snider, Damian Keogh, Stella Merz and Kirstie Macdonald.
Catherine Morshead, Sandra Goldbacher and Edward Hall are attached to direct, with production scheduled to begin in the UK this November.
For fans of period dramas featuring lavish costumes, complicated romances and aristocrats behaving badly, this certainly sounds like one to keep an eye on. With Goodwin’s Victoria pedigree and Margulies playing a wealthy American mother determined to secure her daughter’s future, there should be plenty of opportunities for some wonderfully sharp social clashes.
‘The American Heiress’ will premiere on MGM+ in the UK and US, along with several other international territories. A premiere date has yet to be announced.
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