With buzz continuing to grow around HBO’s upcoming limited series,The Palace, the network has officially announced that production is underway and unveiled a first look atKate Winsletin theleading role. Seated at the head of a long table, Winslet poses with her hands clasped and a resolute expression on her face. The room where she sits looks perfectly polished with glistening marble and gold adornments on the walls. A giant renaissance-like painting hangs above a fireplace with the country’s flags uniformly lined up in front. Winslet’s blonde hair is perfectly coiffed, and she wears a navy blue suit jacket with gold trim.
The Palacecenters on a modern authoritarian regime trying to hold it all together while they instead burst at the seams. The series will take place inside the walls of the titular location and follow the final year of the tyrannical rule. At this time, we know that Winslet will bejoinedin the production byMatthias Schoenaerts(Amsterdam) as well asAndrea Riseborough(Mandy),Hugh Grant(The Undoing),Guillaume Gallienne(Me, Myself, and Mum), andMartha Plimpton(The Goonies).
The project will mark a reunion for many of the cast members including Winslet and Grant who previously starred alongside one another inAng Lee’s 1996 filmSense and Sensibility. It will do the same for Schoenaerts and Winslet who worked together back in 2014 onAlan Rickman’sA Little Chaosas well as for Schoenaerts and Riseborough who recently appeared together inDavid O. Russell’sAmsterdam.
RELATED:‘Avatar 2’ Swear Jar: The Bad Word That Cost Kate Winslet the Most Money
As of right now, none of the actors’ roles have been revealed, other than the announcement that Grant would beappearing in the projectin a guest starring capacity. And, with the first image, we can safely presume that Winslet will be one of—if not the—head of the dictatorship.
The MenuandSuccessionwriterWill Tracycreated the limited series with Primetime Emmy and BAFTA recipientStephen Frearssigned on to direct. Tracy will also work in the writer’s room alongsideJuli Weiner,Sarah DeLappe,Gary Shteyngart,Seth Reiss, andJen Spyra. Winslet and Frears will team up to executive produce withFrank RichandTracey Seaward.
The Palacewill also mark a reunion for several of its stars and home network. Winslet has struck gold multiple times with HBO through her performances in the critically acclaimed miniseriesMare of EasttownandMildred Pierce. Meanwhile, Grant kept audiences on the edge of their seats back in 2020 when he starred oppositeNicole Kidmanin the gripping limited series drama,The Undoing.
As of right now, no release window has been set forThe Palace, but stay tuned to Collider for more information and check out the first-look photo below.
