The limited series follows the life of founding father, philosopher and inventor Benjamin Franklin, starring Douglas (The Kominsky Method), Noah Jupe (The Undoing), Thibault de Montalembert (Dix pour cent), Daniel Mays (Temple), Ludivine Sagnier (Lupin), Eddie Marsan (The Power), Assaad Bouab (Bad Sisters), Jeanne Balibar (Irma Vep) and Théodore Pellerin (On Becoming A God In Central Florida).
Apple TV+ revealed more about the series in the press release below:
“Today, during the 2024 Winter Television Critics Association press tour, Apple TV+ announced that Franklin, a new limited series starring Academy, Emmy and AFI Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Douglas, will premiere worldwide on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes of the eight-part season on Friday, April 12, followed by a 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 biggest gamble of Benjamin Franklin's career.
In December 1776, Franklin is world famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and strength are tested when - with the fate of American independence hanging in the balance - he embarks on a secret mission to France.
At the age of seventy, without any diplomatic training, Franklin convinces an absolute monarchy to support the American experiment in democracy. Thanks to his fame, charisma and ingenuity, Franklin outsmarted British spies, French informants and hostile colleagues. Thus he succeeded in establishing the French-American alliance of 1778 and the peace treaty with England in 1783.
The eight-year French mission is known as Franklin's most important service to his country, without which America could not have won the Revolution. Diplomats and historians still consider it the largest tour of duty by an ambassador in our nation's history.
The drama also stars 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.
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 produce. Stacy Schiff also serves as co-executive producer. Franklin is a co-production of ITV Studios America and Apple Studios.
Below you can check out another first-look photo for Franklin.
