One of history’s most well-known individuals is Cleopatra, though not in the way that we would define it in the present period. Some historical sources contend that the Egyptian queen’s story is only partially accurate, and many people believe that she gave her life to preserve her nation. Even if this seems contradictory, many historical truths are merely dependent on supposition and a few oral traditions.
With the new Netflix docuseries Queen Cleopatra, we might learn more about the Egyptian queen’s personality and what inspired her to become one of history’s most well-known figures. The television show, which also features Adele James, Craig Russell, and John Partridge, is executive produced and narrated by Jada Pinkett Smith. It’s unclear how the docuseries would respond to criticism that it portrayed Cleopatra as a black woman, despite some of it coming from viewers and critics.
Having said that, it has a strong cast and high production value, so it appears promising. Here is what we currently know about the upcoming Netflix docuseries Queen Cleopatra.
Queen Cleopatra: The Plot
It is vital to understand Queen Cleopatra better before going into her biography because contemporary sources have long misrepresented her. The last monarch of the Ptolemaic dynasty was the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. She was compelled to flee the country when her husband got fixated on the throne and take the chance when Julius Caesar came to Egypt.
With Caesar’s assistance, she retakes the throne, but her ascent to power is not blissful because she loses everyone close to her. The new Netflix documentary aims to show audiences that she was an incredibly intelligent and ambitious woman despite the numerous power battles she experienced and the several partners she lost along the way.
Although the events in the series are accurately portrayed, here is how Netflix sums it up:
A documentary series examining the lives of well-known and recognisable African Queens is the brainchild of executive producer Jada Pinkett Smith. This season will focus on Queen Cleopatra, the most well-known, influential, and misunderstood woman in history. She was a daring monarch whose beauty and romances eventually overshadowed her fundamental strength: her intelligence. The history of Cleopatra has been the focus of intense academic discussion, which Hollywood frequently ignores. Now, our series revisits this intriguing section of her narrative.
The Queen Cleopatra trailer makes clear that the docuseries is about more than just the facts because it shows not only why Cleopatra was forced to act in a certain way but also how she viewed herself over the course of her life. She is seen pronouncing herself god multiple times, for instance, since in ancient Egypt, queens were considered to be on par with Pharaohs, the deity. Seeing how Netflix depicts Cleopatra’s struggles with her two cherished companions, Caesar and Anthony, will be interesting.
Queen Cleopatra: The Cast & Crew
The cast of Queen Cleopatra is outstanding, with Adele James playing the lead role. The lovely actress may play the part of a lifetime in the upcoming docuseries since she precisely captured Cleopatra. Her portrayals as Sabryna in The Corona Connections, Shan in That’s What She Said, and Lizzie Milton in Doctors have earned her widespread acclaim.
The entire docuseries is narrated, as the video demonstrates, with Jada Pinkett Smith’s voice taking viewers on the extraordinary journey of Cleopatra. In Matrix Resurrections, Matrix Revolutions, and Matrix Reloaded, she previously portrayed Niobe. Her other well-known works include Welcome to Hollywood and Angel Has Fallen in addition to Scream 2 and Gotham.
Caesar and Anthony will be portrayed by John Partridge and Craig Russell, respectively. While the latter is best recognised for his parts in The Last Kingdom, Magpie, Canaries, and African Queens: Njinga, the former is best remembered for his appearances in EastEnders. The series also stars Kaysha Woollery, Andira Crichlow, Greg Lockett, Philip Walker, and many others in addition to these principal cast members.
While Netflix has kept the production team’s identity a secret, we do know that the series’ narrator, Jada Pinkett Smith, is working with Terence Carter, Miguel Melendez, Sahara Nushue, and Westbrook Studios to executive produce the show. According to Jada Pinkett Smith, the show will reveal a side of Cleopatra that many of us are unaware of. She remarked,
We don’t frequently see or hear tales about Black queens, so it was crucial for me, my daughter, and my community to be able to learn about them since there are so many of them! Many people are familiar with Cleopatra, but not in her whole, authentic form. Although she has been portrayed as being overly sexual, extravagant, and corrupt, she was actually a cunning strategist and a powerful natural force that fought to save her kingdom. and much controversy surrounds her ancestry. This season will examine this fascinating aspect of her past in greater detail.
Queen Cleopatra: Release Date
The new docuseries Queen Cleopatra will debut on Netflix on May 10.