Franklin (miniseries)

{{Infobox television

| image = Franklin (2024) poster.jpg

| genre = Biographical drama

| creator =

| based_on = {{Based on|A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America|Stacy Schiff}}

| writer = Kirk Ellis and

Howard Korder

| director = Tim Van Patten

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer = Jay Wadley

| country = United States of America

| language = {{Plainlist|

English
French

}}

| num_episodes = 8

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Kirk Ellis
Howard Korder
Tim Van Patten
Michael Douglas
Tony Krantz
Mark Mostyn
Richard Plepler

}}

| producer =

| editor =

| cinematography =

| runtime = 60 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

Flame Ventures
EDEN Productions
Shadowcatcher Productions
Boil Some Water Entertainment
ITV Studios America

}}

| budget =

| network = Apple TV+

| first_aired = {{Start date|2024|04|12}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2024|05|17}}

}}

Franklin is a 2024 biographical drama miniseries about the United States Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, based on Stacy Schiff's 2005 book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America. It was released on Apple TV+ on April 12, 2024.{{cite web|last=Schwartz|first=Ryan|date=February 5, 2024|url=https://tvline.com/news/apple-tv-plus-tv-shows-2024-new-returning-1235141679/|title=Apple Sets Dates for Jake Gyllenhaal's Presumed Innocent Remake, Michael Douglas' Franklin and 10 Others (Watch)|access-date=February 5, 2024|website=TVLine}} The series depicts the eight years Benjamin Franklin spent in France to convince King Louis XVI to support the burgeoning United States in the American Revolutionary War.

Cast

=Main=

=Recurring=

Olivier Claverie as Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont
Aïtor de Calvairac as Jacques "James" Le Ray de Chaumont
Lily Dupont as Cunégonde Brillon
Marc Duret as Monsieur Brillon
Ed Stoppard as John Jay
Jack Archer as Thomas Grenville
Gary Lewis as Richard Oswald
Tom Pezier as Louis XVI, King of France
Patrick Kennedy as Strachey

=Guest=

Florence Darel as Therese Chaumont
Olivier Rabourdin as Jean-Charles-Pierre Lenoir
Maria Dragus as Marie Antoinette
John Hollingworth as David Murray, Lord Stormont
Romain Brau as Chevalier d'Éon

Episodes

{{Episode table |background=#5E3731 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |writerR={{Cite web |title=Franklin |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/1245678/franklin/ |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Writers Guild of America West}} |airdate= |airdateR={{Cite web |title=Shows A-Z - franklin on apple tv plus |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/franklin/listings/ |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=The Futon Critic}} |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Sauce for Prayers

|DirectedBy = Tim Van Patten

|WrittenBy = Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|04|12}}

|ShortSummary = As the fight for independence teeters on the brink of defeat, Benjamin Franklin and his grandson plunge into a world of intrigue and deception.

|LineColor = 5E3731

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Welcome, Mischief

|DirectedBy = Tim Van Patten

|WrittenBy = Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|04|12}}

|ShortSummary = An arms operation is threatened by a ruthless opponent. The Paris police watch Franklin’s every move. Temple makes a confession.

|LineColor = 5E3731

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Pride and Gout

|DirectedBy = Tim Van Patten

|WrittenBy = Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|04|12}}

|ShortSummary = Bad news arrives from America. Franklin finds himself ensnared in the traps of Versailles. Temple bows down before a star.

|LineColor = 5E3731

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Small Revenge

|DirectedBy = Tim Van Patten

|WrittenBy = Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|04|19}}

|ShortSummary = Franklin pays back an insult and receives the favour of a king; a new lover catches Franklin's eye and an old rival turns up to thwart him.

|LineColor = 5E3731

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = The Natural State of Man

|DirectedBy = Tim Van Patten

|WrittenBy = Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|04|26}}

|ShortSummary = Tensions mount between Franklin and Adams. Madame Brillon asserts her power. Temple decides to fight his own war.

|LineColor = 5E3731

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Beauty and Folly

|DirectedBy = Tim Van Patten

|WrittenBy = Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|05|03}}

|ShortSummary = Franklin suspects traitors are everywhere. Vergennes makes a final offer. Jacques introduces Temple to the thrill of the hunt.

|LineColor = 5E3731

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = Begin by Creeping

|DirectedBy = Tim Van Patten

|WrittenBy = Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|05|10}}

|ShortSummary = After victory at Yorktown, the Americans and the French plot against each other for the upper hand. Franklin is laid low at a crucial moment.

|LineColor = 5E3731

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Think of Three Things

|DirectedBy = Tim Van Patten

|WrittenBy = Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|05|17}}

|ShortSummary = The future of the United States is decided by six men in a room. Franklin and Temple face a changed world.

|LineColor = 5E3731

}}

Production

It was announced in February 2022 that Michael Douglas would star in the series as Benjamin Franklin for Apple TV+, with Kirk Ellis writing the series and Tim Van Patten directing.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Michael Douglas To Star As Benjamin Franklin in Apple TV+ Limited Series From Kirk Ellis, Tim Van Patten, Tony Krantz & Richard Plepler |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/michael-douglas-benjamin-franklin-apple-tv-limited-series-kirk-ellis-tim-van-patten-1234961897/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=28 February 2022 |date=February 28, 2022}} In June 2022, it was announced that Howard Korder had joined the production as a writer and executive producer.

Filming began in June 2022 in Versailles, with Noah Jupe, Ludivine Sagnier, Daniel Mays, Assaad Bouab and Eddie Marsan amongst additional casting announced.{{cite web |last1=Wiseman |first1=Andreas |title=Apple's Benjamin Franklin Series Starring Michael Douglas Adds Noah Jupe, Ludivine Sagnier, Daniel Mays, Assaad Bouab, More; Filming Starts In Paris |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/apple-michal-douglas-series-benjamin-franklin-noah-jupe-casting-paris-1235040738/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=8 June 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022}}

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 71% of 35 critics gave the series a positive review, with an average rating of 6.5/10. The critical consensus reads, "Franklin{{'}}s unhurried retelling of revolutionary history can be dry as parchment, but Michael Douglas' sly performance as the founding father gives it a compelling jolt."{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=franklin_2024|type=tv|season=1|title=Franklin|access-date=April 19, 2024}} On Metacritic, the series holds a weighted average score of 57 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Cite Metacritic|id=franklin-2024|type=tv|season=1|title=Franklin|access-date=April 19, 2024}}