Starz announced the new original 10-episode series "The White Queen," based on Philippa Gregory’s series of best-selling novels set during the Wars of the Roses.
Colin Callender will executive produce the series and serve a similar role for the second season of Starz' "Magic City" as part of a larger two-year agreement through his company, Playground. Callender worked previously with Starz CEO Chris Albrecht at HBO, where Callender was one of the founders of HBO’s Programming Group. Albrecht praised him as a "world-class movie and televison visionary."
The series stars Max Irons as Edward IV, who is crowned King of England with the help of the master manipulator Lord Warwick (James Frain). When he falls in love with beautiful widow and commoner Elizabeth Woodville (played by Rebecca Ferguson), his plans for domination begin to collapse.
Starz has secured all U.S. domestic and worldwide multiplatform distribution rights to “The White Queen” from ALL3Media International. The deal was brokered by managing director Louise Pedersen on behalf of sister company producer Company Pictures. Starz retains all global rights, with the exception of television rights in the UK, where the series will air on BBC One, and some TV/home video rights in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
The novels “The White Queen,” “The Red Queen” and “The Kingmaker’s Daughter” make up Gregory's “Cousins' War” series.
"Phillipa Gregory’s novels have become runaway best sellers with passionate fans the world over, making this a project ripe for reimagining," said Carmi Zlotnik, managing director of original programming for Starz. "The period of England’s Wars of the Roses makes for a sensational historical backdrop as a time fraught with violence, mystery and intrigue."
