Fox moved to the heart of Texas on Sunday night, blending country music with family feud and raw ambition in its new primetime drama “Monarch.”
Beginning its two-episode premiere just after the Fox NFL doubleheader, “Monarch” follows members of the Roman family as they attempt to maintain their first family of country music status, known as matriarch Dottie Cantrell. Roman (Susan Sarandon) and Albi Roman. (Trace Adkins).
“So the original inspiration I thought was, ‘What if I re-imagined the Romanov dynasty as a family of country stars in Austin, Texas? Executive producer and producer Melissa London Hilfers told TheWrap of the show’s inspiration. “And I wanted it to be a big, grand, multi-generational drama.”
The show all focuses on Romans and their allies, but opens with a press conference hosting not only by Sarandon’s Dottie and Adkins Alby, but on the eldest daughter, Nikki Roman (“Pushing Daisies” alum Anna Friel). does. She is beginning to emerge from under the shadow of her superstar parents, but some are wondering if she is really the heir to the Roman crown.
“And I’m also really, because of who I am, and getting fascinated by the idea of where I am in my life – and again, it goes back to my crazy Romanov research – but of someone who is the clear heir, And she has that pressure on her, but in modern times, a woman who has turned 40 finally has a chance to make her dreams come true,” London Hilfers continued. “Because before that, life got in the way. She had kids and a husband and a demanding family and all these obligations. And the idea that if your time comes in the entertainment industry and you’re over 40, what a lot. It’s late? It was a question that was so overwhelming, has been on my mind for some time.”
Gossip singer Beth Ditto plays Gigi, Nicki’s younger sister. She’s got one hell of a set of pipes, but is left in the shadows, we quickly find out, to support her older sister whose dream is to become a country music legend. The London Hilfers said that she had some inspiration for her own younger sister “Gigi, who was very strict and doesn’t hold back and is kind and heartfelt, and loves her sister.” But like any drama, it’s not all smooth.
“You’ll see that as the series progresses, power and ambition can corrupt all kinds of people. And there are certainly challenges the sisters have to face. But at the end of the day, they definitely Ride or die for each other, which is what I really wanted to portray,” she said.
Joshua Sasse, known for showing his pipes as the star of ABC’s “Galavant,” plays Luke Roman, Dottie and Albie’s middle child, who can sing, but is really on the business side of things. , running his recording empire. Being a business executive, however, is not a career path that has made Luke dear to his father.
“In some ways, he has a very complicated relationship with his father. And in part, that’s because he’s not a professional singer. He’s not a songwriter, and his father, Albie, really only appreciates artists. are,” the EP told TheWrap. “But Luke is also amazing at what he does. He’s the company’s CEO and he’s done really phenomenal things and has long-term plans if Albie would only listen. His mom, Dottie, who named him CEO, knows What she is capable of and she wishes she had a chance to prove it and you would see her and her father over and over again and it kind of hits a fever pitch.”
The three Roman children have their own plays, and much of it is tied to the legacy of their “queen of country music” mother, Dottie, played by Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon.
“Susan was ready to read the script. And I just prayed,” London Hilfers said of recruiting the actress for the role. “And she really answered the material.”
And Trace Adkins, real-life country music legend and actor, was so interested when he heard about the show, that he was able to get him the script.
“It was incredible from the first moment,” she said. “And he’s told me that he responded to the character of Albie because they have a lot in common.”
“Monarch” premieres Sunday night in all time zones simultaneously after the NFL double-header finale on Fox.