Curiosity Stream launches the Tile Films produced 3 x 1 hour UHD history documentary series ‘Queens of Ancient Egypt’ on its streaming platform across North America, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, starting Thursday, 27th July 2023.
The famous Cleopatra is only one in a long line of Egyptian queens, spanning 3,000 years of history. Featuring new archaeological discoveries, Queens of Ancient Egypt explores the lives of three of ancient Egypt’s most fascinating and charismatic female monarchs.
The woman who became a living goddess, only to die amid the ravages of plague. The mother who faced murder and misery from her brother-husband as she fought for control of Egypt. The tragic daughter of Cleopatra, who became a monarch in her own right. The queens of ancient Egypt are among the great civilization’s most fascinating and enigmatic characters. Drawing on amazing new discoveries and cutting-edge research, Queens of Ancient Egypt tells the stories of three little-known but incredible Egyptian queens. Episode 1 investigates the story of Queen Tiye, who rose to dazzling heights 3,300 years ago. She may have blazed a trail for the world’s leading religions, and the belief that there is only one true god. Episode 2 explores the shocking story of Cleopatra II, a predecessor of the famous Cleopatra VII. It’s a grim tale of incest, murder, rape, mutilation and war. Episode 3 reveals the untold story of Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Cleopatra VII. After her parents’ suicide she recovered her fortunes to become one of Africa’s greatest queens.
Filmed in Ultra High Definition, Queens of Ancient Egypt is directed by award winning filmmaker, Stephen Rooke (Ireland’s Secrets from Above, Aerial Greece, Sacred Sites, Aerial Britain, Saving the Titanic, Waterways) and written by David Ryan (Viking Empires, De Gaulle in Ireland, The Lost DNA, Sacred Sites, After Braveheart, Cromwell in Ireland). The series is narrated by the BAFTA winning British-Canadian actor Jane Perry (Devils, The Syndicate, Riveria, Phantom Thread, Borg vs. McEnroe). The documentary elements were filmed in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, USA, UK and Ireland. The stunning drama sequences were filmed in Ouarzazate, Morocco, and feature actors Charis Agbonlahor as Queen Tiye, Vanessa Milchrahm as Cleopatra II, Nathan Clough as Ptolemy VIII / Physcon, Anais Rizzo as Cleopatra III, Wardah Khan as Cleopatra VII and Daiana Madeira as Cleopatra Selene II. Egyptologist Dr Colleen Darnell is expert advisor and principal contributor to the series. Other contributors include Heba Abd El Gawad (University College London), Martina Minas-Nerpel (Trier University), John Darnell (Yale University), Jane Draycott (Glasgow University) and Alex McAuley and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones (Cardiff University).
Queens of Ancient Egypt is produced by Tile Films Limited for Curiosity Inc. and Off the Fence Studios. The series was produced with the support of Section 481, Ireland’s Film Corporation Tax Credit. International distribution in Europe is being handled by Off the Fence.
