Walking through a former distillery in east London, it’s difficult to determine whether you’re in a TV studio or a national heritage site. A set worker proudly exclaims, “We had horses in here the other day!” as we stroll through a wood-panelled grand hall. Upon closer examination of the intricate 18th-century wall murals in the next room, one would be surprised to find hidden depictions from the Kama Sutra. Everywhere you look, gold candlesticks and artificial flames grace the space. Women elegantly strut past in enormous corset dresses, while extras dressed as serfs wait patiently in the shadows, scrolling through their phones. I’m guided into another lavishly decorated bedroom, adorned with a massive map of imperial Russia on the wall. I take a seat at the end of a familiar four-poster bed, the same one in which Catherine the Great has engaged in passionate encounters countless times.
This extraordinary setting is none other than the set of Tony McNamara’s daring and innovative period comedy-drama, The Great. Taking a highly fictionalized approach to the reign of Peter III and Catherine in Russia, the show stars Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. As I visit the set on a sweltering summer day, filming for the third season is well underway. Despite the grueling schedule, this close-knit cast and crew still manage to have fun outside of work. On this particular night, they’ve organized an 80s-themed roller disco, led by Hoult.
Despite having just completed 27 retakes of a single scene, the energy and enthusiasm within this group is truly admirable. “I know!” exclaims Fanning, still in her costume, which surprisingly consists of a casual tennis outfit. “We have a read-through later and then we go. That’s how we roll!” Her sunny disposition never wavers, even during her lunch break. Fanning explains that having fun with her colleagues is the norm when filming in London for up to six months at a time. McNamara, who is known to be a “huge foodie,” has also introduced Fanning to her new favorite restaurants in London: Brawn and Westerns Laundry. “I love London, I could definitely live here,” she gushes.
A few weeks later, while Hoult is filming in Los Angeles, we speak over the phone. He candidly admits that organizing an event where people attempt to skate while intoxicated may not have been the smartest idea. “There were, err, not many broken bones… but it’s nice to get out when everyone is working that hard,” he chuckles. Clearly, both Fanning and Hoult take it upon themselves to keep the spirits high on set.
Gwilym Lee, who portrays Peter’s loyal friend Grigor, describes the atmosphere as “joyous.” He attributes the positive energy to Fanning and Hoult, who set the precedent with their lack of ego and playful approach to everything. Adam Godley, who plays the archbishop Archie, adds, “Nick is so bonkers! The riffs that Tony gives him, he does so well. It’s all so outrageous!” This cheerful atmosphere effortlessly translates onto the screen, making The Great a show where the entire cast appears to be having the time of their lives.
However, things took a serious turn the last time we saw Catherine and Peter. Catherine had imprisoned her husband in the palace while preparing to give birth to their child. Despite her complex feelings, she started falling in love with Peter as he showed affection towards their baby, Paul. Nevertheless, in order to seize control of Russia, Catherine needed Peter dead. The final straw was learning that he had slept with and killed her mother, Joanna. In a fit of rage, Catherine stabbed Peter to death. Yet, her remorse was instantaneous when he emerged from the shadows after witnessing his wife kill his doppelgänger, Pugachev. The last shot of them nervously gazing at each other drew inspiration from The Graduate, leaving viewers wondering, “What happens now?”
Season three picks up 24 hours later, with Catherine and Peter in couples therapy after engaging in makeup sex over breakfast. The court is in chaos, with Catherine’s prisoners hoping she will put an end to the brutal “bullet or the bear” death penalty they face. As she locks herself in a closet to make a crucial decision, Catherine fears that she is starting to see herself in Peter. Fanning explains, “It’s an internal battle for her this season: what she thinks she is and who she wants to be. Can she face who she really is?” Meanwhile, Peter continues to exhibit his barbaric and foolish behavior, but the series offers insight into why he and his friends are such terrible people. Lee shares, “There are some amazing scenes that show why they have the bond that they do. They were terrorized by their parents. So now they look out for each other – like damaged animals taking care of one another.”
The unpredictability of the show is mirrored by the fact that the cast only receives a few scripts at a time. With McNamara writing while they film, anything can happen, and they wholeheartedly trust in his vision. As Belinda Bromilow, who plays Peter’s progressive aunt Elizabeth, notes, “We’ve crossed so many lines that everything is now completely open.” Godley adds, “Tony’s heart is always in the right place, so we completely trust him.” The show’s nine Emmy nominations and one win demonstrate the success of McNamara’s unconventional approach. Fanning and Hoult both earned nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress in 2022, with Hoult discovering the news while driving. “I called Elle right away – we both screamed down the phone,” he recalls.
While they adore working on The Great, Fanning and Hoult have even more significant projects on the horizon. Hoult, a former child actor turned Hollywood star, recently starred alongside Anya Taylor-Joy in The Menu and Nicolas Cage in Renfield. Since our interview, he has also been asked to audition for the role of Superman. Fanning, also a former child actor and the younger sister of Dakota, starred in and executive produced the Hulu series The Girl from Plainville. However, The Great has been Fanning’s most significant and longest-running production to date. “I did the pilot when I was 20,” she reflects. “That was four years ago – I feel emotional because this has been my 20s. I don’t even want to think about what happens when it’s over.” With those thoughts in her mind, she skips off to continue her work on set.
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