1536, a drama series set in the heart of Tudor England against the backdrop of Anne Boleyn’s arrest, is heading to the U.S. after HBO boarded the project.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network will co-produce the eight-part series with the BBC, which commissioned it earlier this year.
1536 comes from The Great writer Ava Pickett. Deadline broke the news of the project in February.
1536 started life as a stage play, produced by Margot Robbie and her LuckyChap shingle. It opened at the Almeida Theatre last year before moving to the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End earlier this year.
The series “weaves royal scandal with rural struggle”. It centers around Anna, Mariella and Jane: three young women gossiping, arguing and dreaming in an Essex village, desperately waiting for their lives to start. When the news reaches them that King Henry VIII has had his Queen, Anne Boleyn, arrested, the three of them never suspect that this act will change their lives forever.
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As the weeks unfold, the trio notice a rising tide of puritanism and misogyny. They attempt to navigate marriage, relationships, betrayals and births but as the fate of a Queen in a tower is sealed, they discover that being a woman in a volatile country is dangerous. As their own fates come into focus, the three try desperately to hold on to their friendship – but can it last or must they turn on each other to survive?
It asks if a King can murder his Queen, what does that mean for women elsewhere and how much have things really changed?
Pickett serves as writer, showrunner and exec producer, while Molly Manners (One Day) directs and exec produces.
The series is produced by Mediawan-backed Drama Republic, which is behind series such as BBC’s Doctor Foster and Amazon’s Steal. Jude Liknaitzky, Roanna Benn, Rebecca de Souza, and Chloe Beeson exec produce for Drama Republic and Anna Ferguson exec produces for the BBC.
Pickett said, “I’m so excited and thrilled to be working with HBO, the BBC and Drama Republic on 1536 and feel very lucky to have them champion this story so fiercely. And to be collaborating with the brilliantly talented Molly Manners is a dream come true. I can’t wait to bring this story about power, patriarchy and friendship to a new audience.”
Francesca Orsi, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, said, “We’re elated to partner with Ava Pickett and the BBC to bring her first television series to life. Ava is an immense talent, and we couldn’t be more excited and honored to work with her on transforming her singular vision of 1536 from stage to screen.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added, “We are thrilled to be working once again with the HBO team and look forward to bringing Ava’s brilliantly bold scripts to life together with the team at Drama Republic. We can’t wait for viewers to see these funny, courageous, and iconic female characters on screen.”
