Max Irons Set to Star in ‘The White Queen’

Max Irons at the Red Riding Hood Premiere
Max Irons at the 'Red Riding Hood' Premiere - Photo © Richard Chavez

Starz has tapped Max Irons (son of Jeremy) to star as King Edward IV in their new scripted series, The White Queen. The 10 episode dramatic series will air in 2013 and is based on Philippa Gregory’s bestselling novels The White Queen, The Red Queen, and The Kingmaker’s Daughter.

“Philippa Gregory’s novels have become runaway best sellers with passionate fans the world over, making this a project ripe for reimagining,” stated Carmi Zlotnik, Managing Director of Original Programming, for Starz, LLC. “The period of England’s Wars of the Roses makes for a sensational historical backdrop as a time fraught with violence, mystery and intrigue. We are excited to be working with an incredibly talented team, both in front and behind the camera, that is taking on such an ambitious project and bringing this riveting story to life.”

Colin Callender will executive produce the series for Starz, and he’ll also be executive producing season two of Magic City.

Chris Albrecht, CEO of Starz said: “Carmi and I have worked with Colin for many years, and we are excited to have such a world-class movie and television visionary lending his talents to our STARZ series.”

Filming will take place in Bruges, Belgium.

Details on The White Queen:

The White Queen is the thrilling story of the women caught up in the ongoing conflict for the throne – they are some of the most ruthless players in history and will stop at nothing to support their own causes and those of the ones they love.

It is a stunningly rich tale of love and loss, seduction and deception, betrayal and murder, vibrantly woven through the stories of three different yet equally driven women in their quest for power as they manipulate behind the scenes of history – Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, and Anne Neville.

The year is 1464 and England has been at war for nine years battling over who is the rightful King of England – it is a war between two sides of the same family, The House of York and The House of Lancaster.

The House of York’s young and devilishly handsome Edward IV (Irons) is crowned King of England with the help of the master manipulator Lord Warwick “The Kingmaker” (James Frain). But when Edward falls in love and secretly marries a beautiful young widow, the commoner Elizabeth Woodville, introducing the exciting newcomer, Rebecca Ferguson, Warwick’s plan for control over the English throne comes crashing down around him. Frustrated by the new Queen’s influence he will stop at nothing to maintain his grip on the King.

The captivating and beautiful Elizabeth Woodville marries for the love of her King, with the help of her mother Jacquetta (Janet McTeer) a self proclaimed sorceress. Elizabeth’s most fierce adversary is the staunchly loyal Lancastrian Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale) – a damaged and highly religious woman who would willingly lay down her life to see her young son Henry Tudor take the throne. And then there is Anne Neville (Faye Marsay), Lord Warwick The Kingmaker’s daughter – a pawn in her father’s battle for control; who finds her strength and ambition when she takes control of her destiny and marries the King’s younger brother Richard Duke of York (Aneurin Bernard).