Trailer for the Historical Epic Series THE EMPIRE Coming to Disney+ Hotstar
Disney+ Hotstar has released the first trailer for its upcoming historical epic series The Empire. The story centers on a “king battling against enemies, fate, family, death and even himself, in search of his kingdom.”
As you’ll see, this looks like it was a huge production, and it’s said to be the streamer’s “magnum opus series.” The series, which consists of eight episodes, is based on Alex Rutherford’s novel series Empire of the Moghuls, “a racy, fictionalized version of the history of the Moghul empire, which dominated South Asia from 1526 to 1720. Season 1 is based on the first novel, Raiders from the North. It follows the young prince Babur, whose father, the king of Ferghana, dies in an accident. Babur’s ascent to the throne is in constant danger from an evil warlord. An assassination attempt on him further deepens worries about the vulnerability of Ferghana. The young king must now take responsibility for an entire kingdom and perhaps look to fabled lands beyond his borders.”
This looks like a great show. It was shot across India and Uzbekistan and the trailer showcases the grand locations in those areas, along with epic battle sequences and massive sets. They put a lot of money into this thing.
Nikkhil Advani (D-Day) is the showrunner of the series, and It’s directed by Mitakshara Kumar. The cast includes Kunal Kapoor (Rang De Basanti) as Babur, Shabana Azmi (24: India), Drashti Dhami (Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka), Dino Morea (Tandav), Aditya Seal (Fittrat), Sahher Bambba (Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas) and Rahul Dev (Poison).
Advani said in a statement, “’The Empire’ is a dream project that I have nurtured for years. The narrative we are exploring is something none of the makers have ever attempted in the history of Indian entertainment and given this story a fictional and creative bent.”
Kapoor said, “We have heard many stories about Babur and the Moghuls, but very little about who they were, where they came from and how they came into India. In this fictional take, this is a character with a lot of complexities, and that is what intrigued me as an actor. The trailer is just a small glimpse into the world of ‘The Empire’.”
Azmi added, “For many years I have been fascinated by the imperial lives from the pages of history. We have seen and read many stories but the ones that I love the most are where women play strategic roles; much like my character in ‘The Empire’ – she is fierce, confident and knows what she wants. I hope the audience enjoys watching her as much as I enjoyed playing her.”
The Empire will be released on August, 27th.