A look at the new or upcoming TV series and movies for 2024 reveals all the genres you’d expect, from comedies to detective stories and fantasy adventures. One aspect that may catch your eye is that many are based on renowned historical figures. Why are these shows now so popular?
Napoleon Shows His Relationship with Josephine
Napoleon reached Apple TV+ this year after its theatrical release in 2023. Directed by Ridley Scott and with Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, it aims to give us an insight into the life of the French Emperor and military leader. Reviews have been mixed so far, with many critics praising the battle scenes but being unsure whether the movie gives us a clearer idea of what he was like in real life. Having said that, its focus on his relationship with Josephine (Vanessa Kirby) lets us see a different side to Napoleon.
The Ridley Scott film may have renewed global curiosity about the French Emperor, but he has always been a significant part of the popular cultural discourse. Napoleon has appeared as a character in several other movies, such as 2002’s The Count of Monte Cristo and 1970’s Waterloo. We can also find him on an online slots UK site, in the Napoleon: Rise of an Empire slot. This game by Blueprint lets players try to create winning lines with the Emperor and other characters. Alexander The Great: World Conqueror is another slot based on a historical figure that players can spin the reels on.
Manhunt Reveals a Difficult Time in American History
This new miniseries is based on the days following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It’s been adapted from the book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson. Edwin Stanton (played by Tobias Menzies) was Lincoln’s secretary of war who led the hunt for John Wilkes Booth following the dramatic events at Ford’s Theater.
While the President himself isn’t the main focus of the series, it dwells largely on the aftermath of the American Civil War. This review of the show suggests that it does a good job of reflecting on the “bitter compromises and hard-won triumphs of the era”, shortly after the end of the Civil War in what was known as the Reconstruction Era.
Franklin and the Fight for Independence
Michael Douglas portrays Benjamin Franklin in the miniseries Franklin based on the book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America. It focuses on the years that the Founding Father spent in France, where he championed American independence and fought to gain French support for the country’s new democracy.
Spread over eight episodes, it shows how Franklin used charisma and ingenuity to convince his hosts to add their financial support to the American battle for independence. All of this was carried out while he had to outsmart British and French spies who tried to undermine his mission. It helps us to understand the long process that led to American independence, and how easily it could have been derailed.
All of these series are about more than their main character. They attempt to show us critical moments in time and how the key characters in history faced up to them.