Franklin (miniseries)

Franklin
Genre	Biographical drama
Based on	A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America by Stacy Schiff
Written by	Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder
Directed by	Tim Van Patten
Starring	Michael Douglas Noah Jupe Daniel Mays Ludivine Sagnier Thibault de Montalembert Assaad Bouab Théodore Pellerin Tom Hughes Jeanne Balibar Eddie Marsan
Theme music composer	Jay Wadley
Country of origin	United States
Original languages	English French
No. of episodes	8
Production
Executive producers	Kirk Ellis Howard Korder Tim Van Patten Michael Douglas Tony Krantz Mark Mostyn Richard Plepler
Running time	60 minutes
Production companies	Flame Ventures EDEN Productions Shadowcatcher Productions Boil Some Water Entertainment ITV Studios America
Original release
Network	Apple TV+
Release	April 12 (2024-04-12) – May 17, 2024 (2024-05-17)

Franklin is a 2024 biographical drama miniseries about the United States Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, based on Stacy Schiff's 2005 book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America. It was released on Apple TV+ on April 12, 2024.^[1] The series depicts the eight years Benjamin Franklin spent in France to convince King Louis XVI to support the burgeoning United States in the American Revolutionary War.

Cast

Main

• Michael Douglas as Benjamin Franklin
• Noah Jupe as William Temple Franklin
• Daniel Mays as Edward Bancroft
• Ludivine Sagnier as Anne Louise Brillon de Jouy
• Thibault de Montalembert as Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes
• Assaad Bouab as Pierre Beaumarchais
• Théodore Pellerin as Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
• Tom Hughes as Paul Wentworth
• Jeanne Balibar as Anne-Catherine de Ligniville, Madame Helvétius
• Eddie Marsan as John Adams

Recurring

• Olivier Claverie as Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont
• Aïtor de Calvairac as Jacques "James" Le Ray de Chaumont
• Lily Dupont as Cunégonde Brillon
• Marc Duret as Monsieur Brillon
• Ed Stoppard as John Jay
• Jack Archer as Thomas Grenville
• Gary Lewis as Richard Oswald
• Tom Pezier as Louis XVI, King of France
• Patrick Kennedy as Strachey

Guest

• Florence Darel as Therese Chaumont
• Olivier Rabourdin as Jean-Charles-Pierre Lenoir
• Maria Dragus as Marie Antoinette
• John Hollingworth as David Murray, Lord Stormont
• Romain Brau as Chevalier d'Éon

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by [2]	Original release date [3]
1	"Sauce for Prayers"	Tim Van Patten	Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder	April 12, 2024 (2024-04-12)
As the fight for independence teeters on the brink of defeat, Benjamin Franklin and his grandson plunge into a world of intrigue and deception.
2	"Welcome, Mischief"	Tim Van Patten	Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder	April 12, 2024 (2024-04-12)
An arms operation is threatened by a ruthless opponent. The Paris police watch Franklin’s every move. Temple makes a confession.
3	"Pride and Gout"	Tim Van Patten	Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder	April 12, 2024 (2024-04-12)
Bad news arrives from America. Franklin finds himself ensnared in the traps of Versailles. Temple bows down before a star.
4	"Small Revenge"	Tim Van Patten	Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder	April 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)
Franklin pays back an insult and receives the favour of a king; a new lover catches Franklin's eye and an old rival turns up to thwart him.
5	"The Natural State of Man"	Tim Van Patten	Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder	April 26, 2024 (2024-04-26)
Tensions mount between Franklin and Adams. Madame Brillon asserts her power. Temple decides to fight his own war.
6	"Beauty and Folly"	Tim Van Patten	Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder	May 3, 2024 (2024-05-03)
Franklin suspects traitors are everywhere. Vergennes makes a final offer. Jacques introduces Temple to the thrill of the hunt.
7	"Begin by Creeping"	Tim Van Patten	Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder	May 10, 2024 (2024-05-10)
After victory at Yorktown, the Americans and the French plot against each other for the upper hand. Franklin is laid low at a crucial moment.
8	"Think of Three Things"	Tim Van Patten	Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder	May 17, 2024 (2024-05-17)
The future of the United States is decided by six men in a room. Franklin and Temple face a changed world.

Production

It was announced in February 2022 that Michael Douglas would star in the series as Benjamin Franklin for Apple TV+, with Kirk Ellis writing the series and Tim Van Patten directing.^[4] In June 2022, it was announced that Howard Korder had joined the production as a writer and executive producer.^[5]

Filming began in June 2022 in Versailles, with Noah Jupe, Ludivine Sagnier, Daniel Mays, Assaad Bouab and Eddie Marsan amongst additional casting announced.^[5]

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 71% of 35 critics gave the series a positive review, with an average rating of 6.5/10. The critical consensus reads, "Franklin's unhurried retelling of revolutionary history can be dry as parchment, but Michael Douglas' sly performance as the founding father gives it a compelling jolt."^[6] On Metacritic, the series holds a weighted average score of 57 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[7]

See also

• List of films about the American Revolution
• List of television series and miniseries about the American Revolution
• Benjamin Franklin, 1974 miniseries
• Benjamin Franklin, 2002 TV series
• Benjamin Franklin, 2022 two-part documentary

References

1. Schwartz, Ryan (February 5, 2024). "Apple Sets Dates for Jake Gyllenhaal's Presumed Innocent Remake, Michael Douglas' Franklin and 10 Others (Watch)". TVLine. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
2. "Franklin". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
3. "Shows A-Z - franklin on apple tv plus". The Futon Critic. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
4. Petski, Denise (February 28, 2022). "Michael Douglas To Star As Benjamin Franklin in Apple TV+ Limited Series From Kirk Ellis, Tim Van Patten, Tony Krantz & Richard Plepler". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
5. Wiseman, Andreas (8 June 2022). "Apple's Benjamin Franklin Series Starring Michael Douglas Adds Noah Jupe, Ludivine Sagnier, Daniel Mays, Assaad Bouab, More; Filming Starts In Paris". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
6. "Franklin: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
7. "Franklin: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 19, 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Franklin at the Internet Movie Database