ABC’s set to premiere season one episode one of the new period drama Still Star-Crossed on May 31, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT. The one-hour drama comes from writer/executive producer Heather Mitchell, with Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Mark Wilding, Michael Goldstein and Michael Offer also executive producing. The cast includes Grant Bowler as Lord Damiano Montague, Wade Briggs as Benvolio Montague, Torrance Coombs as Count Paris, Dan Hildebrand as Friar Lawrence, Lashana Lynch as Rosaline Capulet, Ebonee Noel as Livia Capulet, Medalion Rahimi as Princess Isabella, Zuleikha Robinson as Lady Guiliana Capulet, Sterling Sulieman as Prince Escalus, Susan Wooldridge as Nurse and Anthony Head as Lord Silvestro Capulet.
Season one guest stars include Clara Rugaard as Juliet Capulet, Lucien Laviscount as Romeo Montague, Gregg Chillin as Mercutio, Shazad Latif as Tybalt Capulet, Miguel Angel Ripeu as Baptista Minola, Llew Davies as Truccio, and Guillem Fernandez as Niccolo.
The network’s unveiled plot details, photos, and a trailer in support of the series’ first episode. Season one episode one of the series, “In Fair Verona, Where We Lay Our Scene,” was directed by Michael Offer from a script by Heather Mitchell.
The Still Star-Crossed Plot: Following the death of her cousin Juliet, Rosaline Capulet (Lynch) finds herself in the middle of a political play to try and save Verona. She will prove she’s a force to be reckoned with, especially when it comes to her destiny, and must make tough decisions regarding her loyalty to the Capulet name. Rosaline’s sister, Livia Capulet (Noel), is a hopeless romantic who dreams of a marriage to provide her with a life she’s always wanted, but her yearning for love makes her an easy target, and she gets drawn into a sordid secret unbeknownst to her.
Romeo’s death thrusts his cousin Benvolio Montague (Briggs) into a position of responsibility, as he becomes the sole heir to the Montague name and must abide by a sinister plan to solidify his family’s prominence. A newly crowned Prince Escalus (Sulieman) is determined to end the bloodshed between the Montagues and Capulets, but his only solution forces him to decide between following his heart and protecting his kingdom. Eager to help her brother rule Verona, Princess Isabella (Rahimi) finds herself drawn to the throne, but quickly realizes that obtaining power as a woman will require succumbing to a twisted scheme.
Lord Capulet (Head) is the patriarch of the Capulet dynasty and is willing to maintain the legacy of his family’s name at any cost. Lady Capulet (Robinson) may want the same as her husband, but a mystery behind her true ambitions will slowly come to light. The Montagues are on the precipice of matching the Capulets social status, but Romeo’s death threatens to stall their ascent. Angered by grief and the loss of his son, Lord Montague (Bowler) will stop at nothing to ensure the Montagues are the most respected family in Verona.
The sparring families aren’t the only ones affected by Romeo and Juliet’s tragic fate. The keeper of Verona’s darkest confessions, Friar Lawrence (Hildebrand), feels a deep responsibility for their deaths, along with the Capulet’s lifelong caretaker, the Nurse (Wooldridge). She holds many secrets of her own, including the fact that she is tending to Count Paris (Coombs), who was supposed to wed Juliet, but was left for dead after a brutal fight with Romeo.
Episode One Plot: In the wake of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic deaths, the Montague and Capulet rivalry escalates. A new royal takes the throne in Verona and struggles to determine what is best for his city, which is at the epicenter of mayhem.
