Starz has let some news slip about “The Spanish Princess,” the follow-up series to “The White Queen” and “The White Princess”: all episodes will be woman-helmed. According to Variety, the first two installments will be directed by Birgitte Stærmose (“Darling”). The directors of the remaining eps have not yet been confirmed, but “The Spanish Princess” plans to hire all women.
The cabler also announced that “Game of Thrones” actress Charlotte Hope will lead the series. She’ll portray the titular character, Catherine of Aragon, who is betrothed to the future King of England. Catherine marries Prince Arthur (Angus Imrie) when they are both teens, but when he dies shortly after she “finds her future as Queen in question and at the mercy of a divided Tudor court under the threat of enemies both abroad and closer to home.”
Like its predecessors, “The Spanish Princess” is based on Philippa Gregory’s historical novels and presents royal history from the perspective of women. The new series will also tell the stories of the people of color who lived and worked in London during Catherine of Aragon’s time.
Emma Frost will showrun the series with Matthew Graham. She previously produced and wrote for “The White Queen” and “The White Princess.”
Joining Hope in the cast is newcomer Stephanie Levi-John as Catherine’s lady in waiting Lina de Cardonnes, and Georgie Henley (“Chronicles of Narnia” franchise) as Arthur’s sister, Margaret “Meg” Tudor. Dame Harriet Walter (“The Crown”) and Laura Carmichael (“Downton Abbey”) will also co-star.
Other shows that have hired all-women directors include “Queen Sugar” and “Harlots.” Season 2 of “Jessica Jones” was entirely helmed by women as well.