“Serpent Queen” Axed, Elizabeth I Spin-Off Set

Starz
Starz has reportedly cancelled its historical drama series “The Serpent Queen” after two seasons, but the news isn’t so bad for fans or the cast of the series.

Deadline reports that the actors options, including leading lady Samantha Morton as Catherine de Medici, had been picked up and so they will be paid for the unproduced Season 3 episodes without having to do them.

Fans of the show will also be getting a bonus with a spinoff series centering on Queen Elizabeth I which is in the works from the same creative team of writer/executive producer Justin Haythe and executive producer Erwin Stoff.

Minnie Driver guest starred as Elizabeth in the second season of “The Serpent Queen” and is expected to reprise her role for the new series.

“The Serpent Queen” wrapped its second season run jus over a month ago, the two-year gap between seasons sadly pushing numbers down. Reviews were excellent with three dozen reviews yielding 100% (7.6/10) on Rotten Tomatoes.

The second season ended with the events of the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, which Starz execs felt provided a satisfactory conclusion of Catherine’s story.