Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston Are Starring in a Victorian Mystery Romance

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A bestselling novel by Sarah Perry is hitting the small screen, starring none other than Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston. Set in the late 1800s, The Essex Serpent follows London widow Cora Seaborne (Danes) who moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. In Essex, Cora forms an unlikely bond with the village vicar (Hiddleston), but when tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature.

Here's everything we know so far about The Essex Serpent, a mini series that will see Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston searching for monsters—and finding love:

The Essex Serpent is based on a bestselling novel of the same name by Sarah Perry.

The book is set in 1893, shortly after Cora Seaborn's abusive husband dies. Cora is relieved, and soon leaves the city for Colchester, Essex with her 11-year-old son, Francis, and his nanny, Martha, after hearing of a mythical sea dragon in the region.

Once there, she meets Reverend William Ransome, who lives in the nearby village of Aldwinter, and in his church, a serpent is carved into the pews—sparking his interest in the beast. Cora and Will strike up an unlikely friendship, and investigate the serpent. Cora then later invites her friend, Dr. Luke Garnett, from London to examine children who are falling into fits because of the so-called monster.

In short, there's romance, mystery, suspicion, and drama—all in Victorian England.

Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston lead the cast.

Danes signed on as Cora in February 2021, and Hiddleston joined the cast as William a month later. Hiddleston's most recent television role was as Loki on the Disney+ TV show Loki, and Danes last starred on television in the award-winning Homeland from 2011 to 2020, a performance that earned her two Emmy wins.

"It was like I was playing an ingenue again, even though I’m decidedly middle-aged," Danes told Vanity Fair. "When she’s released again into the world as an unshackled person, Cora is a little out of step with herself, and that was a strange experience to play."

"It will sound strange to hear this, but inside the experience I found there were some similarities, in that both Loki and Will are destabilized—their faith is shaken, their certainties are uprooted and questioned," Hiddleston says. “There’s a newfound curiosity in both characters.”

The main cast is rounded out by Frank Dillane, who will portray Cora's friend, the ambitious young surgeon Dr. Luke Garrett; Hayley Squires will play Cora's confidant and nanny Martha; Clémence Poésy will play Will's wife, Stella; and Jamael Westman will be Dr. George Spencer, Luke’s right hand man.

Keira Knightley was originally set to play the lead of Cora, but left the project for "family reasons," per Variety.

The series is female led.

Anna Symon, of Deep Water and Mrs. Wilson, wrote The Essex Serpent script, and Ali & Ava director Clio Barnard is directing all six episodes. Plus, the writer's room for the show was staffed by all women.

The Essex Serpent filmed in 2021 in Essex and London.

Claire Danes was spotted on set in Maldon, England in March 2021:

Photos from the set in London in May 2021 showed actors in period costume:

How to watch The Essex Serpent:

The Essex Serpent premiered on Friday, May 13 on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes. The next four episodes will drop weekly.

Sign up for Apple TV+ here

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