The Great (TV series)

Not to be confused with Catherine the Great (miniseries).

The Great
The series' title card
Also known as
  • The Great: An Occasionally True Story (seasons 1–3)
  • The Great: An Almost Entirely Untrue Story (season 2)
Genre
Created byTony McNamara
Starring
Music byNathan Barr
Country of origin
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes30
Production
Executive producers
  • Tony McNamara
  • Elle Fanning
  • Nicholas Hoult
  • Marian Macgowan
  • Mark Winemaker
  • Brittany Kahan Ward
  • Doug Mankoff
  • Andrew Spaulding
  • Josh Kesselman
  • Ron West
  • Matt Shakman
Producers
  • Dean O'Toole
  • Nick O'Hagan (pilot only)
Running time50–61 minutes
Production companies
  • Thruline Entertainment
  • Echo Lake Entertainment
  • Lewellen Pictures
  • Macgowan Films
  • Piggy Ate Roast Beef Productions
  • Civic Center Media
  • MRC Television
Original release
NetworkHulu
ReleaseMay 15, 2020 (2020-05-15) –
May 12, 2023 (2023-05-12)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

The Great (titled onscreen as The Great: An Occasionally True Story and in one episode as The Great: An Almost Entirely Untrue Story) is a British-American absurdist satirical dark comedy-drama historical fiction television series very loosely based on the rise to power of Empress Catherine the Great of Russia. The series stars Elle Fanning as Catherine and Nicholas Hoult as Emperor Peter III and Peter's body double Yemelyan Pugachev.

The Great was created, and is mostly written, by Australian playwright and screenwriter Tony McNamara, based on his 2008 play of the same name.[1] The series does not aim for historical accuracy, and was described by Hulu as "anti-historical".[2]

All ten episodes of the first season were released on Hulu on May 15, 2020.[3] In July 2020, it was renewed for a second season which premiered on November 19, 2021.[4][5] In January 2022, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on May 12, 2023.[6][7] The first season received mostly positive reviews, while the second and third seasons received critical acclaim, with particular praise for its directing, writing, humor, costumes, and cast performances (particularly those of Fanning and Hoult). It has received numerous accolades, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, with both Fanning and Hoult being nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress and Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, respectively, in 2022. In August 2023, Hulu announced the series' third season had been its last.[8]

  1. ^ McHenry, Jackson (May 15, 2020). "How The Great Very, Very Loosely Adapts Russian History". New York. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Hulu's The Great Is Wrong on the Facts but Smart About History". Slate. May 15, 2020.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Premiere Date was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference S2Renewal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference S2Premiere was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference S3Renewal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference S3Premiere was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Rice, Lynette (August 30, 2023). "Shocker! Hulu Cancels 'The Great' After 3 Seasons". Deadline. Retrieved December 18, 2023.