The Great Series 2 begins UK shoot

The second series of Hulu’s historical satire The Great has begun filming in London. 

The Great is a comedic drama loosely based on the life of Catherine the Great, as she rose from an outsider to Empress of Russia, the longest-reigning ruler in the country’s history. 

The first series, set in the late 1700s, centred on her youth and marriage to Emperor Peter III. Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult play Catherine and Peter respectively. 

Tony McNamara writes The Great – based on his original stage play - which could run for multiple series, as executive producer Marian Macgowan told The Critics Association winter tour. “We initially pitched six seasons. So we believe there’s sufficient material to take us through until she [Catherine] is an old woman.”

It is produced by MRC (Media Rights Capital), Thruline Entertainment, Echo Lake Entertainment and Macgowan Entertainment.  

The first series took in a wide range of UK locations, including Hever Castle, where the Italian Loggia on the lake doubles as a ballroom of an Eastern European house. Battle scenes were also filmed in the fields and stables of St Clere estate, also in Kent. Other UK locations for S1 included Castle Howard, Ham House, Hatfield, Belvoir Castle and London. 

Images: © Hulu