Tom Hiddleston (Thor: Ragnarok) is preparing for a summer full of television. As Loki is preparing to air on Disney+ June 11, the Marvel star has been cast in the upcoming Apple TV+ period drama The Essex Serpent alongside Claire Danes (Homeland), according to TVLine.
Based on Sarah Perry’s (author, After Me Comes the Flood) bestselling novel of the same name, the series is set in Victorian England, and will follow Danes as Cora, a widow who moves to a small town after the death of her abusive husband. Via TVLine, after moving to the small village of Aldwinter, Cora becomes obsessed with the supposed return of the mythological creature, the Essex Serpent. In Aldwinter, Cora meets Will Ransome, played by Hiddleston, who serves as the leader of the rural village.
Although best known for playing the God of Mischief, Loki, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hiddleston is no stranger to the world of television. He previously starred in The Night Manager, The Hollow Crown and Wallander, via TVLine.
According to TVLine, it was only in February that Danes became attached to the project. Previously, Kiera Knightley (Pride & Prejudice) was cast as Cora but had to leave the project due to personal reasons connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently, Anna Symon (writer, Mrs. Wilson) is attached as the head writer on the project, via TVLine. The series will be directed by Clio Bernard (director, Dark River). According to the series’ IMDb page, the series is currently filming. No release date for the series has been announced.
Hiddleston’s co-star Danes is even more familiar with the television space. While she’s best known for starring as Carrie Mathison in Homeland, Danes first broke into stardom by starring on My So-Called Life. According to TVLine, this will be Danes first television project following her eight seasons on Homeland which ended last year.
Image Credit: Raymond Flotat