Based on historic deeds about intrigue and power-fight in Louis XIV court . This costumer movie is partially based on real events and starts in 1667 , with 28-year-old all-powerful king of France, Louis XIV . It toplines two rising British stars , Georges Blagden ("Vikings") in the role of Louis XIV and Alexander Vlahos in the role of Monsieur , the Sun King's enigmatic as well as gay brother whose couple is the scheming Chevalier , Evan Williams . His reign of 72 years and 110 days is the longest of any monarch of a major country in European history , he married Marie-Thérèse (Elisa Lasowski) and being son of Anne of Austria (Dominique Blanc) and Louis XIII (David Stanley) . It's developed in the court of Louis XIV who decides to build the greatest palace in the world - Versailles . This well-known monarch governed in domains where the sun never set ; as Louis continued his predecessors' work of creating a centralized state governed from the capital . We should have the same intelligence as this monarch and take advantage of the power of this story and of its marvellous renaissance background . He sought to eliminate the remnants of feudalism persisting in parts of France and , by compelling many members of the nobility to inhabit his lavish Palace of Versailles -formerly a hunting lodge belonging to Louis's father- , succeeded in pacifying the aristocracy , many members of which had participated in the Fronde rebellion during Louis's minority . However , his brother Monsieur Philippe d'Orléans (Alexander Vlahos) has for some time been relegated to a lesser role in the Court , due to the growing power of the King' most influential secretaries , Bontemps (Stuart Bowman) , Colbert (Steve Cumyn) and especially the security chief , the relentless executioner , Fabien Marchal (Tygh Runyan) . Meantime , the situation of France is threatened by Holland ruled under charismatic William of Orange (George Webster) , being the situation of Louis XIV extremely dangerous and delicate . In the meantime , Louis decides to construct a big palace at an inhospitable place , but drained Budget , affairs and political intrigues complicate things . Louis XIV is in constant conflict with his workers and those traitors who possesses privileged information can acquire immense fortunes . During Louis's reign , France was the leading European power and it fought three major wars : the Franco-Dutch War, the War of the League of Augsburg, and the War of the Spanish Succession . Then , a dark conspiracy and the harassing by William of Orange make Versailles an uncomfortable place .
This upscale epic drama penned by David Wolstencroft ("The Escape Artist") and Simon Mirren ("Criminal Minds" , ¨Third watch¨) , The 10-episode show was big budgeted , developed and co-produced by Canal Plus' original creation division . The series was in development for five years before the cameras started to roll . As of 2015, this is the most expensive television show ever produced in France . Despite being a largely French-financed project, the series was shot in English with an eye toward a larger international audience. According to costume designer Madeline Fontaine, the production required the making of about 100 key cast member costume , and about 200 mass-produced extras costumes. The Emmy Awards hosted an exclusive screening of the series pilot for its members during a board meeting in Versailles . Produced by Zodiak Fiction and Incendo , bowed onseries broke ratings record for an original drama on Canal Plus since 2013 .
This TV series recreates faithfully the historical facts , as long time us separate from the events are to narrate , but the shadows still hide from the public this great historic moment , and the significance of such deeds . ¨Versailles¨ TV series is filled with those lights and shadows , gathers such a very important known event recreated in the artistic frame called French Golden Age , characterized and inspired by the ideas of an absolutism realm . The series contributes to historical , artistical and cultural memory of an era , with a look back to the past , offering us an interesting adaptation on important events . This is a lavish budget but slowly-paced costumer and full of nudism and simulated sex with a good cast who gives nice interpretations , it has Georges Blagden as authoritarian King . Personality and charisma of George Blagden's portrayal as one of the most remarkable European kings that ever reigned . His wife Marie-Thérèse is well played by Elisa Lasowski and his homosexual brother Monsieur Philippe d'Orléans by Alexander Vlahos , and married to Henriette performed by Noémie Schmidt whose gorgeous beauty is difficult to resist . And Tygh Runyan as Marchal gives his big opportunity to really shine . Amira Casar gives a convincing character as astute and mean Béatrice . Stuart Bowman plays with enormous distinction as Bontemps , the incorruptible as well as cunning adviser . The rest of the supporting cast is nice , such as the gay lover Chevalier acted by Evan Williams , Anatole Taubman as traitor Montcourt , Lizzie Brocheré as the doctor Claudine , Sarah Winter as Louise and several others . The series is marvelously photographed throughout as well as written and directed . Extraordinary costume design accompanied by colorful cinematography filmed on location . As the costume team consisted of about thirty people , including the series' main designer, her auxiliary design team, stitchers and fitters . Luxurious sets make excellent use of real locations in Versailles and it has a look of a great TV production . ¨Versailles¨ has been greenlit by the French pay TV giant for a second season (the first is set in the year 1667) that takes place four years after the events in season one.
