Three first-look images from the upcoming Tom Hiddleston series The Essex Serpent give a deeper look into the supernatural drama. The British series is based on Sarah Perry's 2016 novel of the same name, written by Anna Symon (Indian Summers) and directed by Clio Barnard (The Arbor). In addition to Hiddleston, The Essex Serpent also stars Frank Dillane, Clémence Poésy, Hayley Squires, and Claire Danes, who most recently starred in Homeland, which ended its 8-season run in 2020.
Danes will play Cora Seaborne, a widow who moves from London to Essex, on the hunt for a mythical serpent. She teams up with Hiddleston's character, who is the vicar of the village, but a local tragedy leads people to blame Seaborne for calling out the serpent. The series is set to premiere its first two episodes on Apple TV+ on Friday May 13, 2022.
Per Collider, Apple has just released three first-look images from The Essex Serpent. They don't allow too much of a glimpse into the plot of the big-budget prestige series, but they do introduce the two main characters, making their way through drab surroundings in costumes that only occasionally offer a slight pop of color. Danes takes on the more regal and elaborate look of a city widow, which will clash with her new surroundings and highlight how much of an outsider she is, right at the moment when that becomes a particularly dangerous thing to be. Check out the full-size images below:
While Apple TV+ has yet to fully distinguish itself from its streaming service competition, The Essex Serpent will be a move to embrace a more prestige-oriented audience. They have already nabbed plenty of accolades in the comedy sphere with their Jason Sudeikis feel-good series Ted Lasso, but this new series will double down on the atmosphere that has been established by their more serious dramas like The Morning Show or Lisey's Story. Bringing in an A-list star like Hiddleston, who comes with a built-in fanbase as well as a pedigree that allows for nuanced performance, will certainly help launch the series.
The Essex Serpent's Friday the 13th release date is a portentous omen of its mythical roots in local superstition. It remains to be seen whether the show will wholly embrace its supernatural premise or remain in the realm of a psychological thriller that calls the existence of the serpent constantly into question. However, with Hiddleston (who is fresh from his stint on Disney+'s Loki, which is getting a second season) and Danes (who has long proven herself a capable TV lead) at the helm, it's certain to be an interesting experience regardless.
Source: Collider
