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A Gentleman in Moscow (TV series)

2024 British television series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Gentleman in Moscow (TV series)
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A Gentleman in Moscow is a British historical drama series based on the 2016 novel by Amor Towles. Ben Vanstone is writer, executive producer, and showrunner. The series stars Ewan McGregor in the role of Count Alexander Rostov and premiered on Paramount+ on 29 March 2024.

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Synopsis

After recently returning to Russia from Paris, aristocrat Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov spends decades banished to an attic hotel room following the October Revolution, after being sentenced to house arrest by a Bolshevik tribunal.[1]

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Leah Balmforth as Nina Kulikova
    • Alexa Goodall as Young Nina Kulikova
  • Penny Downie as The Countess Rostova
  • Lily Newmark as Helena Rostova
    • Matilda Hunt as Young Helena Rostova
  • Dee Ahluwalia as Audrius
  • Rob Jarvis as Halecki
  • Charley Palmer Rothwell as Pulonov
  • Gabriel Robinson as Yasha
    • Elliot Mugume as Yasha (10 years)
    • Mylo Rayne Pateman-Fannan as Yasha (4 years)
  • Jason Forbes as Alexei Nachevko
  • Beau Gadsdon as Sofia
    • Billie Gadsdon as Young Sofia
  • Anna Madeley as Narrator (adult Sofia)

Guest stars

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Episodes

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Production

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Development

In August 2017 it was reported that a limited series based on the book was in development at Entertainment One.[5] In April 2018, it was announced that Kenneth Branagh would star as Count Rostov in the television series, and that Tom Harper would direct it.[6]

In August 2022 it was announced that Ewan McGregor had replaced Branagh in the role of Count Rostov, and that it would be released on Paramount+ internationally and Showtime in the US.[7][8] In November 2022, it was revealed Sam Miller would direct and executive produce the project.[9] Ben Vanstone was announced as writer, executive producer and show runner.[10] Nessah Muthy has been a scriptwriter on the miniseries.[11]

Casting

On 22 February 2023, McGregor's wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead was added to the cast as Anna Urbanova.[12] In March 2023, Leah Harvey, Johnny Harris, Paul Ready, Alexa Goodall, John Heffernan, Lyès Salem, Fehinti Balogun, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Dee Ahluwalia and Anastasia Hille joined the cast.[13] A significant change from the novel was the decision to cast the character "Mishka" Mindich as a Black man (various other minor characters were also cast with black actors). In the novel, Mishka is a friend of the Count's from his University days, however in the series it is implied that Mishka and the Count grew up together, which in reality would be rare. Today the Black population in Russia is minuscule, making up an estimated .03% of the Russian population.[14] Still, there is long historical precedent of African presence in Russia, especially of the noble classes,[15] and the influence of Moors on Eastern Europe is well documented, such as St. Maurice, the patron saint of the Brotherhood of the Blackheads, in Estonia and Latvia. He also had a known impact on Germany.[16]

Writing

A Gentleman in Moscow is adapted from the novel of the same name by Amor Towles. However, in a change from the book, the role of Anna Urbanova has been expanded in the series. Writer Ben Vanstone said that, while the "novel is necessarily very count-focused", it does not give "that broad an impression of Anna's life away from the count". Vanstone said that a reason for expanding Anna's role was to give the character "more agency through the story".[17]

Costumes

Ewan McGregor was involved in creating the look of Count Rostov alongside Sam Miller and Ben Vanstone. During the rehearsal period for the series in London, McGregor got his hair permed and dyed it dark brown. Over time, the color began to fade, which McGregor believed was "conducive to his aging".[17] Similarly, Winstead initially portrays Anna with bleach-blonde hair, expensive outfits, and makeup; as the show progresses, she reverts to her natural brunette hair, wears more conservative clothes, and stops hiding the visible signs of her own aging.

Filming

Filming took place entirely in England. It began in Victoria Square outside Bolton Town Hall in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on 27 February 2023 and continued into March 2023, and returned in April 2023.[18][19] Liverpool Town Hall was used as a filming location in June 2023.[20] Filming also took place in Halifax, West Yorkshire and Leeds Civic Hall in May 2023,[21] before it was suspended in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[22]

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Release

Amor Towles said in an interview that he expected a 2024 release date.[23] It premiered on 29 March 2024.[24]

Reception

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported a 91% approval rating, based on 35 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The critic's consensus reads: "Illuminated by Ewan McGregor's debonair performance, A Gentleman in Moscow is a rewarding and whimsical portrait of a life blossoming under constraining circumstances."[25] Metacritic assigned it a score of 74 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[26] Jack Seale of The Guardian awarded the first episode four stars out of five, praising McGregor's performance.[27] Alison Herman of Variety praised McGregor but felt the series was 'padded' and questioned the use of its historic setting.[28]

Ewan McGregor was nominated for Best Actor in a Limited Series at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards in February 2025.[29] He was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.[30]

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References

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