IT'S MEDICI, BITCH.

STARZ RELEASES TRAILER AND KEY ART FOR "THE SERPENT QUEEN"

Samantha Morton Stars as the Poisonous Queen of France, Catherine de Medici in New STARZ Drama Series Set to Premiere Sunday, September 11

Santa Monica, Calif. - July 28, 2022 - STARZ released today the trailer and key art for the wicked new drama series "The Serpent Queen" set to premiere on Sunday, September 11. The new series stars Golden Globe(R) winner, two-time Academy Award(R) and two-time BAFTA Award-nominated actress,Samantha Morton (Minority Report, "Harlots," "The Walking Dead"), as the nefarious Catherine de Medici, who, against all odds, became one of the most powerful and longest-serving rulers in French history.

"The Serpent Queen" premieres Sunday, September 11 at midnight on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms andinternationally on the STARZPLAY premium streaming platform across all territories. On linear, it will debut on STARZ at 8:00 ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada.

A historical drama with an edge, "The Serpent Queen" puts a contemporary spin on conventional storytelling to tell the tale of Catherine de Medici's (Morton) rise to power. In the series premiere, "Medici Bitch," Catherine's tale unfolds through flashbacks as she defends her actions and imparts the lessons she's learned to her new servant confident, Rahima (Sennia Nanua, The Girl with All the Gifts, Frankie). At 14, the young, orphaned Catherine (Liv Hill, "Three Girls," Jellyfish) marries into the 16th-century French court. Despite her commoner status, her uncle Pope Clement (Charles Dance, "Game of Thrones," "The Crown"), has negotiated a large dowry and a geopolitical alliance in return for the union, and with it comes the expectation of many heirs. However, on her wedding night, Catherine learns that her new husband is in love with Diane de Poitiers (Ludivine Sagnier, "Lupin," "The Young Pope"), a beautiful lady-in-waiting twice his age.

With her future suddenly uncertain and with little hope of conceiving, Catherine must quickly learn who she can trust - both within her personal entourage of courtiers and the members of the royal court - while outmaneuvering anyone who underestimates her determination to survive at any cost.

The series also stars Colm Meaney ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," Tolkien), Kiruna Stamell ("The New Pope," Moulin Rouge!), Barry Atsma (The Hitman's Bodyguard, "Bad Banks"), Alex Heath ("Suspicion," Boiling Point), Amrita Acharia ("Game of Thrones," "The Good Karma Hospital"), Enzo Cilenti, (Free Fire, "The Last Tycoon"), Antonia Clarke (Anna, Magic in the Moonlight), Adam Garcia (Coyote Ugly, Murder on the Orient Express), Beth Goddard ("Manhunt," "Des"), Raza Jaffrey ("Homeland," "Code Black"), Ray Panthaki ("Away," Colette), Nicholas Burns (Emma, "Harlots"), Danny Kirrane (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, "Don't Forget the Driver"), and Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding, "Adult Material").

"The Serpent Queen" is based on the book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda and is from writer and executive producer Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road, Red Sparrow, The Lone Ranger). Stacie Passon ("Transparent," "Dickinson," "Billions") directs multiple episodes, including the premiere episode and serves as executive producer. The series is executive produced by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2) and Erwin Stoff (The Matrix, 13 Hours, Edge of Tomorrow). The eight-episode series is produced for STARZ by Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Follow "The Serpent Queen" on Social Twitter: @serpentqueen Instagram: @theserpentqueen Facebook: @theserpentqueenstarz Join the conversation with #TheSerpentQueen and #STARZ

About STARZ

STARZ (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company, is a leading global media streaming platform committed to delivering premium content that amplifies narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences. STARZ is home to the highly-rated and first-of-its-kind STARZ app that offers the ability to stream or download STARZ premium content, as well as the flagship domestic STARZ(R) service, including STARZ ENCORE, 17 premium pay TV channels, and the associated on-demand and online services. In 2018, STARZ launched its STARZPLAY international premium streaming platform to provide subscribers access to the "best of global SVOD." STARZPLAY, coupled with its STARZPLAY ARABIA joint venture, has expanded its global footprint into more than 60 countries throughout Europe and Latin America along with Canada, Japan, India and Indonesia. STARZ and STARZPLAY are available across digital OTT platforms and multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies around the world. In February 2021, STARZ launched #TakeTheLead, a multi-faceted and innovative inclusion initiative expanding its existing efforts to improve representation on screen, behind the camera and throughout the company.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company's film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by a 17,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.

About 3 Arts Entertainment

3 Arts Entertainment is a talent/literary management and production company, with 26 years of experience. We have offices in Beverly Hills and New York and have clients in the TV and Film Lit world, acting world, hosting world, branded areas, digital media and more. 3 Arts has produced hit films such as The Matrix, Austin Powers: Thy Spy Who Shagged Me, The Devil's Advocate, Edge of Tomorrow and 13 Hours and more. We currently executive produce over 30 shows on the air. Some of our series include: "Julia," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," "Master of None," "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," "Insecure," and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."