In 2008, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Tony McNamara staged a play at the Sydney Theatre Company revolving around Catherine the Great.
As he wrote a potential film adaptation, he began to realize how massive the story actually was and decided it would work better as a series.
In 2018, The Great was greenlit at Hulu and its success has led to Emmy and SAG Awards nominations and a renewal for a third season.The McNamara-penned Season 2 episode “Alone at Last” is the latest installment of It Starts On the Page, Deadline’s annual series that highlights the scripts that serve as the creative backbones of the buzzy shows that will define the now-underway TV awards season.
The scripts in our series are all being submitted for Emmy Awards consideration this year and have been selected by Deadline using criteria that includes critical acclaim, selecting from a wide range of networks and platforms, and a mix of established and lesser-known shows.The Great is a satirical black comedy-drama loosely based on Catherine’s rise to power in Russia.
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