Apple TV+ has unveiled the trailer for “Franklin”. This is an eight-part limited series starring and executive produced by Academy, Emmy, and AFI Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Douglas.
Most people know Benjamin Franklin for his electrical experiments, or the fact that his face is on the 100 dollar bill. But in “Franklin”, we’ll see the thrilling story of his secret mission to France, with the fate of American independence hanging in the balance. You can check out the trailer above!
“Franklin” is based on the Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff’s book, “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America”. It follows the story of Franklin’s greatest gamble in his career, traveling to France and convincing an absolute monarchy to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy.
At age 70 and without any diplomatic training, Franklin was able to outmaneuver British spies, French informers, and hostile colleagues to engineer the Franco-American alliance of 1778 and the peace treaty with Great Britain in 1783. This eight-year mission in France stands as his most vital service to the United States. It is said by diplomats and historians that this was the greatest single tour of duty by an ambassador in U.S. history. Without French aid, America would not have been able to have won the Revolution.
Joining Douglas on the cast is Noah Jupe as ‘Temple Franklin’. Thibault de Montalembert as ‘Comte de Vergennes’. Daniel Mays as ‘Edward Bancroft’. Ludivine Sagnier as ‘Madame Brillon,’ Eddie Marsan as ‘John Adams,’ Assaad Bouab as ‘Beaumarchais,’ Jeanne Balibar as ‘Madame Helvetius’ and Theodore Pellerin as ‘Marquis de Lafayette.’
The creative team includes writer and executive producer Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder. Tim Van Patten serves as director and executive producer.
