Michael Douglas, the two-time Oscar winner and veteran Hollywood actor, is taking on a new challenge: portraying one of the most influential figures in American history, Benjamin Franklin.
The upcoming Apple TV+ limited series, 'Franklin', will explore the life and achievements of the founding father, inventor, diplomat, and scientist.
The series is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Stacy Schiff, 'A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America', which chronicles Franklin's crucial role in securing the Franco-American alliance that helped win the Revolutionary War. The show will follow Franklin's secret mission to France in 1776, where he used his fame, charisma, and ingenuity to persuade the French monarchy to support the American cause.
The first look images of the series show Douglas in full costume as Franklin, wearing a powdered wig, a hat, and a trench coat. He is also seen in formal attire, surrounded by French aristocrats and his grandson, Temple Franklin, played by Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place Part II). The series was filmed in Versailles, France, and features a star-studded cast of actors, including Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan) as John Adams, Ludivine Sagnier (Lupin) as Madame Brillon, and Theodore Pellerin (There's Someone Inside Your House) as Marquis de Lafayette.
Douglas, who also serves as an executive producer of the series, said in a statement that he was honored to play Franklin, whom he described as "a brilliant, complex, and fascinating man." He added that he hoped the series would "inspire a new generation of viewers to learn more about this remarkable American icon."
'Franklin' premieres on Friday, April 12, on Apple TV+. The first three episodes will be available at launch, followed by a new episode every Friday until the finale on May 17.
