Needless to say, this is very exciting news! Crossing everything for the confirmation soon!
No info as yet, the CV just states character name 'Nikolai'...
Filming for season 3 completed end of 2022, and it is set to air in 2023!
For anyone who has not seen it, The Great is a dark comedy-drama, critically acclaimed, loosely based on Catherine The Great and Emperor Peter III of Russia, with Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult in the lead roles.
It is a massively popular show in the US and UK and has received loooooads of awards and nominations!
It is a Hulu show but also streamed in the UK on starzplay, Lionsgate Plus, and also aired on Channel 4/All4. The first 2 series are available to buy and stream across various platforms now.
Once we get confirmation that Damien will be joining the cast, this topic will be moved into the TV section of the forum!
It has been a long while since Damien has appeared in a period costume in a role... Being Human, Ripper Street, The Current War, plus his theatre roles of course..
but the 18th century costumes in The Great are something else!
So palatial, soo much gold, gilding, and pomp
depending on the character of course...
(I might be getting too excited for this before it is actually official)
Hi Domino, u have brought me out of lurk mode with this news!!! We watched both of the series on Channel 4, loved them, I just really hope it is true!! Watched it with my kids because hubby was not amused after the first episode It is not for the faint hearted for sure!!! Damo is great in this kind of comedy, so this will be perfect for him, am not really up on the history but with a name like Nikolai that could be anyone When will the new series be aired, do you know?
__________________
My name is Ciara and I've been on the Kia-Ora!!!! :D
HalGal, it's great to see you here, thanks for coming out of lurk mode, I do hope it encourages others
Agree with you, seeing Damien in a dark and satirical comedy like this would be an epic treat, and yes, the easily offended will probably need to look away. The Great is great () because it's so raucous though, but at the same time, it is by no means fully shallow.
I'm not up on my 18th Century Russian history much either, but by season 2 the story veers pretty far away from factual...so possibly not much historical fact in season 3 either?
I am trying not to speculate too hard about this and failing (it is a bit torturous as always having some info but not the full official confirmation) but also wondered about Nikolai, would it be a figure from history, or will season 3 also veer far away from history? My mind has wandered towards perhaps a writer, journalist, lover, soldier, royalty, member of the court...and many more possibilities!
There is no info yet on an air date for season 3, and i am assuming it will be on Hulu in the US before it reaches the UK unless it streams simultaneously, however it seems likely it will be 2023 and filming finished 2022 for main cast (no idea about when Damien would have been filming though! This one, if true () has been kept super quiet!)
This is still on Damien's Spotlight profile which fuels my hope!
Further research revealed season 3 finished filming in December 2023, so I am going for a release guess in the second half of this year! Apparently there is a Hulu 2023 trailer with clips from The Great, which I cannot find, but that also suggests it is back this year
For some reason it keeps popping up in the list of programmes I would like from Sky. I honestly don't know why, it's not my kind of thing at all (I loathe so-called historical dramas as they're usually totally unhistorical. I only managed season one of 'Victoria ' for instance).
If Damien has a major role I may force myself to watch but if it's more of a "blink and you'll miss him" I probably won't bother.
-- Edited by EllieForster on Tuesday 7th of March 2023 10:07:50 AM
No news yet on Damien's casting or role but Hulu has released a season 3 synopsis:
Season 3 of The Great sees Catherine and Peter attempt to make their marriage work after some seemingly insurmountable problems. Peter witnessed his own attempted murder at Catherine’s hands and she also imprisoned all of his friends. On top of this, Peter is at a loose end playing First Husband to Catherine’s reign, so he busies himself with fathering, hunting and salty culinary ventures. But they’re not enough to keep him contented as visions of his late father (played by Jason Isaacs), get in his head about his failures as Peter the Great’s son. Catherine the Great starts making a name for herself beyond her borders and inspired by a visit from the US ambassador, sets up a conference where peasants, nobles and merchants can all give their input on developing a new Russia. She learns that even the best political leaders sometimes need to make compromises in order to progress.
Yay!! not too long to wait then, I can't wait to find out about his character either. I was thinking maybe a politician or royalty, would love him as a scallywag!!! Ellie maybe it will be a 1 episode role like Derry Girls. I don't really care that it won't be major, which it won't be because there are already lead roles. I just love this show & it will be great to see Damien in it. But I think I prefer that to someone like Dustin Demri Burns in this who gets a few seconds a series!!
__________________
My name is Ciara and I've been on the Kia-Ora!!!! :D
Agreed HalGal, hoping it is a substantial guest role, but love the show and to see Damien in it at all will be a treat. I find DDB's Voltaire a fab little interlude! And let's not forget... Damien in period costume!
As usual, I am kind of going mad without confirmation, and we probably have another month until we get it, maybe a trailer, or maybe a cast announcement, but keep telling myself it is on Damien's Spotlight CV so it HAS to be right, right?
Nikolai is a scientist in Catherine The Great's science department.
He appears in quite a signiicant way in episode 10 (but not sure about others.)
Majorly spoilery episode description:
"Once she’s [Catherine] sitting at her desk, we see a balloon fly into her workspace. A scientist from her science department, Nikolai (Damien Molony), enters behind it. Nikolai reveals a comet that passes near the Earth every 75 years. It’ll be close to Russia this year, and everyone can watch it. Nikolai proposes Catherine make an event out of it for her people. They can show that “the heavens” can be known to humankind and not a total mystery. She loves this.
Well, that is until Petrov drags a cart with Pugachev’s body on it. In shock, Catherine stares at his corpse while Petrov makes a beeline for Nikolai. He demands they duel the following day despite Catherine outlawing dueling. Why? Because Nikolai was the man who slept with his fiancée. Archie, Petrov, Elizabeth (Belinda Bromilow) and Marial offer Catherine advice regarding her next steps. Catherine seems to think the problem will vanish because Pugachev is dead. However, the public will believe she killed Peter III. Overwhelmed, Catherine storms out. "
"Nikolai visits Catherine in her apartment, and they talk about his inadvertent womanizing, science and ruling a country. Catherine orders him to f*ck her. The “Peter” jumped out of her here. The pair have sex until Elizabeth interrupts them. Nikolai departs."
"Later, we see Petrov and Nikolai standing back-to-back, their guns poised at the ready. It’s almost duel time. Catherine enters the scene with a new purpose following her near-death experience. She reminds them that dueling is illegal, but she will step in and serve as Nikolai’s second. Petrov objects but participates anyway. Right as someone says, “Three,” Catherine shoots Petrov in the leg. Then, she orders him to meet her in her office."
I am sooo excited to hear more and learn that Damien has a significant part in this episode!
The Great 3 is now streaming on Lionsgate + for peeps in the UK! Anyone watching?
They are only releasing 1 episode per week - talk about torture, as if we haven't waited long enough!
Loving the series but let's face it, we Molonians are mainly waiting for the appearance of Damien's character, Nikolai - which isn't 'til the last episode!