We’re always trying to track what historical costume movies and TV shows are coming up. I always feel like we’ve Just Posted one of these, and then I go check and it’s been months. So, yay, we get some new stuff! As always, you can keep an eye on what’s forthcoming on our Upcoming Movies page! Editor’s note: Due to the ongoing pandemic and the current Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes, some theatrical releases are being rescheduled, so please be patient as we update our Upcoming Movies page. Note that all dates are for the U.S.
A Haunting in Venice (Sept. 15)
Kenneth Branagh takes on another Poirot mystery, now in post-World War II Venice. Costumes by Sammy Sheldon.
Jeanne du Barry (Sept. 29)
Biopic of the last official mistress of Louis XV. We saw it when it was released in France, and we’ve already ripped it apart! Costumes by Jürgen Doering.
Priscilla (Oct. 6)
A look at the relationship between Priscilla and Elvis Presley. Costumes by Stacey Battat.
Lessons in Chemistry (Oct. 13 on Apple TV)
A woman’s dream of being a chemist in the early 1960s is put on hold when she finds herself pregnant, alone, and fired from her lab. Costumes by Mirren Gordon-Crozier.
Killers of the Flower Moon (Oct. 20)
Members of the Osage tribe are murdered under mysterious circumstances in the 1920s, sparking a major F.B.I. investigation. Costumes by Jacqueline West.
The Gilded Age, Season 2 (Oct. 29)
More of the Julian Fellowes-created series set in 1880s New York among the super-rich. We recapped season 1. Costumes by Kasia Walicka Maimone.
Napoleon (Nov. 22)
A Napoleon Bonaparte biopic directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix. Costumes by Janty Yates. I have some thoughts about the trailer, but not enough for a whole post, so I’ll just say, WTFrock is Marie-Antoinette wearing on her way to the guillotine, and why does Josephine look like she’s in The Craft in her first introduction?
Wonka (Dec. 15)
A Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory origin story set in the early 20th century. Costumes by Lindy Hemming.
The Color Purple (Dec. 25)
Musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel set in the early 1900s. Costumes by Francine Jamison-Tanchuck.
When Will It Get a U.S. Release?
The Gallows Pole
Miniseries set at the start of the industrial revolution in 18th-c. Yorkshire and based on the novel by by Benjamin Myers. Costumes by Emma Rees.
The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan
The story of one of the Three Musketeers. Costumes by Thierry Delettre. There’s also a sequel called “Milady,” but I’ll settle for even one of them getting released here?
No U.S. Release Date
Firebrand
A film about Queen Catherine Parr and Henry VIII‘s marriage. Costumes by Michael O’Connor.
Not a trailer, rather a clip:
In the Fire
A New York doctor treats a boy in remote village, sparking a war of science versus religion in the 1890s. Costumes by Sabrina Beretta.
Not a trailer, rather a clip:
What Else Is Coming Up?
No trailers yet available, but here’s a look at a few other upcoming productions:
The Buccaneers (Nov. 8 on Apple TV)
A new adaption of Edith Wharton’s unfinished final novel. Costumes by Kate Carin.
The Artful Dodger (Nov. 29 on Disney+)
Per IMDB: “Set in 1850s Australia, the series follows adult double life of Charles Dickens’ famous prince of thieves Dodger now a surgeon, but who can’t shake his predilection for crime.” No costume designer listed, but Disney released a few pics.
Belgravia: The Next Chapter (MGM+)
Picking up the story in 1871 with young Lord Trenchard, unaware of his true parentage. Costumes by Phoebe De Gaye.
You can see some behind-the-scenes filming pics at the Daily Mail.
The Decameron (Netflix)
Series set in 1348 during the Black Death. Costumes by Gabriella Pescucci & Uliva Pizzetti. You can see some behind-the-scenes filming pics at the Daily Mail.
The Leopard (Netflix)
TV series based on the novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa about Italian unification in the 1860s. Costumes by Carlo Poggioli & Edoardo Russo.
Mary & George (AMC)
Miniseries about the Countess of Buckingham who molded her son to seduce King James I. Costumes by Annie Symons.
Three Little Birds (ITV/Britbox)
Miniseries following three women who leave Jamaica for Great Britain in the 1950s. Costumes by Mena Martinez.
Which of these upcoming productions has you most excited?
Oh, fun, fun, fun! Thanks, Kendra; I need something to take my mind off the endless indictments of a certain person who does NOT dress well.
We aim to serve!
I’m very excited for Killers of the Flower Moon after reading the excellent book, though I’m not sure it’ll provide much by way of costume excitement. I’m also looking forward to watching the new season of the Gilded Age, even though I’m sure I’ll complain the whole time about some of the actors (mostly the non-Broadway ones, who seem to have so much trouble with the period accent) and about Fellowes and his prim refusal to admit he really wants to go full soap opera. I adore The Color Purple as a novel but am a bit worried about how Disney this adaptation looks (ditto The Buccaneers). And cautiously intrigued by Lessons in Chemistry and by Mary and George, which should at least be juicy and fun? We’ll see!
I ghave my concerns about the Buccaneers. How are they going to top the wonderful 1995 miniseries adaptation?! Lack of Hairpins in the Gallows Pole, alas, did she forget them at the Abbey?
I have my concerns, sorry!
A Haunting in Venice looks so completely different from the source material that it was allegedly based on that I have no desire to see it, despite liking the cast. It seems to have nothing to do with the book “Hallowe’en Party” at all!
I really wish Branagh would give up doing Poirot adaptations. I don’t think he suits the character at all and his adaptations just aren’t hitting the mark. And this is coming from a Branagh fan!
I agree! I saw Murder on the Orient Express and was thoroughly unimpressed with how he characterizes Poirot and the way he had to make everything more dramatic at the expense of the cleverness of the writing
I think Josephine is supposed to be dressed for a “Victims Ball”, where relatives of those sent to the chopping block during the Terror would cut their hair like those prisoners and also wear red ribbons around their necks to evoke beheading. Look up Incroyables and Merveilleuses, it was a whole “aesthetic”.
The “victim’s ball” has been discredited as an actual thing that happened (not that I expect Ridley Scott to know or care!). Excellent & detailed scholarly article explaining how the myth developed in the 19th-c. – https://www.jstor.org/stable/2902948
O mon Dieu that Napoleon trailer. Napoléon’s looking particularly old for a 20-something who barely saw any campaigning before his first major battle. He was still described as “young looking” when he was in his late 40’s.
Napoléon being present at Marie Antoinette’s execution? No. Blowing up the tops of the damn Pyramids? Literally nothing about that makes sense. Hiding an entire battery under canvas at Austerlitz – when nothing like that ever happened? There’s also a promotional image of Napoléon meeting Wellington in person. Wow.
And I suppose it’s early to tell, but what’s going on with the acting? Napoléon was quite famous for his charisma and confidence. Even his British enemies who met him in person were quite taken in by Napoléon’s charisma. Yet the way Scott and Phoenix seem to interpret this is: mumble. Just mumble everything.
Ridley Scott really does have a 10th grader’s understanding of history.
“Ridley Scott really does have a 10th grader’s understanding of history.”
#ACCURATE #YOUSAIDAMOUTHFUL
And don’t get me started about the casting of Vanessa Kirby (13 years younger than Phoenix, and almost looking like she could be his daughter) as Josephine, who was six years OLDER than Napoleon.
That is just straight up sexist.
Agreed!
Thank you!
For all the faults of the 2002 mini-series Napoléon, I thought they cast Isabella Rossellini perfectly as Joséphine. Wisely casting an older woman; she was graceful and beautiful.
The good folks over at The Court Jeweller had very similar reactions to the ages of the actors, and those fine folks are mostly only interested in the production’s jewellery!
I confess, I am worried about “Napoleon.” Phoenix is a good actor, but he’s middle-aged now. Napoleon was a young punk, and that was part of his appeal: “the Little Corporal,” and all that. (Although he was not particularly short.)
That’s a lot of armpit cleavage for the 1860s in the Leopard! I have my questions about the Buccaneers and the Gallows Pole! Did Daisy leave all her hairpins at the Abbey? Facepalm for A Haunting in Venice, not even the same genre as Agatha Christie. She’s rolling in her grave! Also the second season of World On Fire is premiering in October, I may watch the 1st episode, I wasn’t that impressed with the 1st season!
Also, What’s with the 250+ years too early Minnie Mouse ears in the Decameron! I was hoping they’d lean into a Pre-Raphaelite/fantasy version of medieval dress, kind of like Ophelia did? I have a lot of thoughts!
Yeah, what is up with that? I expect better from Gabriella Pescucci! What’s the director got going???
OMG….usually I try to answer the orienting question at the end of your posts, but that’s practically impossible! MOST of these are so intriguing for various reasons. 1. I had NO interest in the Willy Wonka movie, but now that I know the production team from Harry Potter is involved, I’ll have to see it. They make the most BEAUTIFUL movies! 2. I did not know that TAHAR RAHIM (sigh) was in Napoleon. Now I HAVE TO see it historical inaccuracies notwithstanding (whereas I was on the fence about it before). 3. It’s been so long since I read and watched Belgravia. I thought the first series covered the whole book. Will season two be comprised of “new content”, or am I confused? 4. I was already SUPER hyped for The Musketeers, but now I’m even MORE hyped. And a lot of the ones I never heard of before look really interesting too, especially the Amber Heard one and the Chemistry one. 5. Does the little boy in the Amber Heard movie have heterochromia, or am I seeing things? In other words, I’m hyped! Thanks for this post!
The costumes in this new version of the “Buccaneers” are just a massacre to the eyes. The set design and hairstyles are puke-worthy too. Overall, this production looks mega-cheap and amateurish. Sorry for my harsh words, but compared to the “Buccaneers” of 1995 this is just a sacrilege.