The Serpent Queen

The Serpent Queen is an American historical drama series dramatizing the life of Catherine de' Medici, the Italian-born noblewoman who rose to become Queen of France in the 16th century. Created by Justin Haythe and starring Samantha Morton in the lead role, the show draws on Leonie Frieda's 2004 biography Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France, though it takes notable dramatic liberties with the historical record.

The story follows Catherine as an orphaned teenage bride sent to the French court, where she faces a loveless marriage, an unpaid dowry, and early struggles to produce an heir — obstacles she overcomes through political cunning, eventually ruling France for roughly five decades. Memet Ali Alabora appears in the cast.

Produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and Lionsgate Television, the series debuted on Starz on September 11, 2022, and returned for a second season on July 12, 2024, before being canceled that October after sixteen episodes across two seasons.