When you see news of a political satire fronted by the mighty Kate Winslet, with support from Martha Plimpton, Andrea Riseborough, Matthias Schoenaerts and Hugh Grant, you know that this show is gunning for a place in prestige TV history.
Created by Will Tracy (The Menu), The Regime tells “the story of life within the walls of a modern authoritarian regime as it begins to unravel”. The trailer suggests it’s going to be a wild ride, and if you’re getting serious Succession vibes from it all, that’s probably because the series is executive produced by the same people behind the multi-award-winning show about the ill-fated Roy dynasty.
What’s the big idea?
Initially called The Palace, Winslet is stepping into the shoes of Chancellor Elena Vernham, who presides over a fictional European country (but in reality, the show is filmed mostly in Vienna, Austria).
However, after not leaving the palace for quite some time, the germophobic Elena grows increasingly paranoid and unstable. Then she turns to a volatile soldier, Herbert Zubak (played by Matthias Schoenaerts), as an unlikely confidant and lover.
As Zubak’s influence over the chancellor continues to grow, Elena’s attempts to expand her power eventually result in both the palace and the country fracturing around her.
Speaking to Net-A-Porter about the role, Winslet said: “I knew that I could push the envelope in terms of creative choices because it is meant to be absurd. I wanted to do as many things as I could to let the audience know that you should not take this woman seriously”.
Elena, according to the same article, “has huge issues with the world and within herself, due to a bizarre childhood”, addresses the nation as “my loves”, regularly broadcasts herself singing, and keeps her dead father in a glass coffin in the basement. “It’s just so repulsive,” Winslet added.
When’s it out?
OK, so here’s the annoying thing – it’s being broadcast in America a whole month earlier than in the UK.
The six-parter starts on Sunday 3 March in the US, with weekly episodes until the final episode which will tie it all up on 7 April. As for over here, it’s all kicking off in April, with the exact date still TBC, which we will update as soon as we’re given our orders.
How can I watch it?
As it’s an HBO Original, it’ll be screened on Sky Atlantic, and will also follow the weekly release format, as well as being available on NOW TV as well.
