Apple TV+ in March announced that “Franklin,” a new limited series starring and executive produced by Academy, Emmy and AFI Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Douglas, will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes of its eight-episode season on Friday, April 12, followed by one new episode every Friday through May 17, 2024.
Based on Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff’s book, “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America,” “Franklin” explores the thrilling story of the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin’s career. In December 1776, Franklin is world famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when — as the fate of American independence hangs in the balance — he embarks on a secret mission to France.
At age 70, without any diplomatic training, Franklin convinced an absolute monarchy to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy. By virtue of his fame, charisma, and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies, French informers and hostile colleagues to engineer the Franco-American alliance of 1778 and the peace treaty with England in 1783.
The eight-year French mission stands as Franklin’s most vital service to his country, without which America could not have won the Revolution. Diplomats and historians still regard it as the greatest single tour of duty by an ambassador in our nation’s history.
Set in the 18th century, when Benjamin Franklin was convincing the French government to recognize America’s independence from Britain, this decadent period piece comes out firing on all cylinders.
Built around a magnetic central performance from Douglas, Franklin is an ever-expanding web of intrigue, double-dealing and clandestine connections spread across eight episodes.
As Michael Douglas moves into his elder statesman era, Franklin reveals an actor with every instrument at his disposal. Drawing on his wealth of experience over 50 years of crafting characters, Douglas plays the title character as a man of disarming intellect who is comfortable in every environment. Benjamin Franklin is revealed to be a cunning tactician, charming rogue and beguiling presence — as well as the driving force behind the Apple miniseries.
Like Apple’s miniseries Manhunt, which focused on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, Franklin feels like a fully fleshed out period drama. That focus on quality comes through consistently in every Apple project, and it’s that principle which makes Franklin so good. They might not hit a home run every time, but there is no denying their desire to champion unique voices in an industry that actively avoids risk. Anyone looking for something unique or who is a fan of quality historical drama will want to stream Franklin at the first opportunity, as Douglas’ performance might earn him an Emmy nomination — and it would be no surprise to see the Apple TV+ project pick up some behind-the-scenes Emmy recognition as well.
The drama also stars Noah Jupe (“A Quiet Place”) as Temple Franklin, Thibault de Montalembert (“Call My Agent!”) as Comte de Vergennes, Daniel Mays (“Line of Duty”) as Edward Bancroft, Ludivine Sagnier (“Lupin”) as Madame Brillon, Eddie Marsan (“Ray Donovan”) as John Adams, Assaad Bouab (“Call My Agent!”) as Beaumarchais, Jeanne Balibar (“Irma Vep”) as Madame Helvetius and Theodore Pellerin (“There’s Someone Inside Your House”) as Marquis de Lafayette.
In addition to Douglas, the creative team includes Emmy- and WGA Award-winning writer and executive producer Kirk Ellis (“John Adams”) and Emmy, WGA and Pulitzer Prize Award-nominated writer and executive producer Howard Korder (“Boardwalk Empire”). Emmy and DGA Award-winning director Tim Van Patten (“Masters of the Air,” “The Sopranos”) serves as director and executive producer. Richard Plepler produces through his EDEN Productions, Tony Krantz through Flame Ventures, Philippe Maigret and Mark Mostyn also executive produce. Stacy Schiff also serves as co-executive producer. “Franklin” is a co-production between ITV Studios America and Apple Studios.
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I bet he’ll look wonderful as a turtle.