The sun is setting on Versailles. Recently, Variety reported season three will be the last for the Canal+ and Ovation TV show.
The French historical drama is set during the reign of Louis XIV. The cast includes George Blagden, Alexander Vlahos, Catherine Walker, and Elisa Lasowski.
In an interview with Variety, Canal+ executive Fabrice de la Patelliere revealed why season three will be the end for Versailles:
From the start, “Versailles’” producer Claude Chelli had spoken to us about making three seasons. The series was meant to chronicle the coming of age and rise to power of Louis XIV and show how he built Versailles to corral his nobles, asserting his absolute power. At the end of the third season, Louis XIV has achieved absolute power, he’s 46 or 47 years old, so we reached the end of the narrative arc that we had envisioned for this series.”
Season three of Versailles is set to premiere in the U.S. on Ovation this fall. You can read more details below:
NATPE: January 16, 2017 Fresh off the success of its Season Two premiere, Ovation, America’s only arts network, has licensed Season 3 of the hit international series Versailles (10 x 60′) from Banijay Rights, the international distribution arm of Banijay Group. The new season will have its U.S. linear and digital premieres on Ovation TV, on VOD, and Ovation NOW in the fall 2018. The announcement was made today by Scott Woodward, EVP, Programming, Ovation.
Versailles season 3 is a CANAL+ Création Originale series, produced by Capa Drama, Banijay Studios France, Entre Chien et Loup. This landmark Anglo-French drama takes the period genre to new dimensions, focusing on the art and culture, greed and deception, sex and politics, and duplicity and murder that all collided in the court of Louis XIV. Since its debut on Ovation in the fall of 2016, the series has been a remarkable success for the network, both on air and across its social networks. Season Two, which concluded last month, exceeded the stellar ratings of Season One by +11% with adults 25-54, and +13% in total viewers. On social media, fan engagement continued to grow throughout the season, and doubled during the final episode. The Los Angeles Times named Versailles Season Two one of the Top Ten shows of 2017.
“Versailles has been a stunning success for Ovation since the Season One premiere,” said Woodward. “Season Two exceeded our expectations, surging past the network’s benchmarks for original premieres. Particularly thrilling for us was the marked uptick across all our social media platforms and interest in our original behind-the-scenes and documentary content about Versailles. It had the ‘tide raises all ships’ effect and we certainly are eager to ride the wave into 2018 with Season Three.”
At the end of the last season, we saw King Louis’ empire, as well as his sanity, dissolve into chaos. In Season Three, he resolves to regain control of his own life, his precious Versailles, and France itself. But rebellion is in the air and new challenges are brewing inside Versailles, as well as outside. Emboldened by his new favorite Madame de Maintenon, he won’t relent in his quest for absolute power, convinced of his own divine powers.
Season Three of Versailles is executive produced by Claude Chelli and Aude Albano and directed by Richard Clark, Edward Bazalgette, and Pieter Van Hees. George Blagden (Vikings) returns as Louis XIV, Alexander Vlahos (Merlin) as Prince Philippe, Catherine Walker as Madame de Maintenon and Elisa Lasowski as Queen Marie Thérese.”
What do you think? Have you seen Versailles? Are you sad the show is ending?
Why is there no 4th season. Such a great show. Characters were wonderful. Please bring it back
So sad to see the season end. Please bring it back. It would be worth waiting for. My mom and I enjoyed the acting, dress and the locations. It was captivating. Let the Sun King come back.
So sad to see it.go. Enjoyed that serie. Why not a season 4
I am very sad the show is ending. I just started watching it and i immediately became addicted!! So sad to see it go… Please keep it going!!
Best series ever, have watched since season #1
Amazing cast of actors! No do not cancel this series.
So ticked that all the good series get cancelled.
I’ve watched this charismatic series since season #1, I love it.
No, I do not wish for it to be cancelled , all the good series seen to
Always get cancelked, what a pity. Best cast of actors ever! *********
I will miss it. I liked it. Plenty of historical facts used, made it good TV. Lots of crap stays on forever but not this good show? Season 4 mon amis?
I am very sad, I love this show. Please will Netflix pick it up and produce additional seasons?
So we see the insincere effort to clsoe out Versailles to meet some externally impsed deadline. So Marcal will remain in prison forever for his refusal to exterminate Protestants for his King? How I had hoped for
at list an emtionally and anhistorically ending at least! But no! Instead, the pablum of happy disney-esqe ending. You had everything needef to continue the series; especially an irreplaceable cast. What a shame and ehat a loss for us, ovation tv viewing public.
I have enjoyed watching Versaille, am sad this will conclude with no further viewing. The actors were so outstanding, the costumes magnificent. Hopefully it can continue. Had looked forward to Saturday evening to watch. There has to be more series . I applaud cast, producers and all involved in this production. Thank you, Thank you,
The most magnificent, stimulating, opulent, and brilliant series, Versailles, is hurling toward its rapid end this Saturday night. Shall we the viewing public know the true reason this series disappears following Saturday night’s performance? Too beautifully cast, tooremarkable performance by a phrnomenal generation of actors? Too much truth to power? Or is it the tremendous success of the producers, designers, or show creators’ gorgeously clear depiction of the tensions and competition og the autocratic Roman Catholic church and the absolute monarchy of France? Maybe perchance it was the true portrayal of the love, friendship, and spectacularly hot sex between Phillipe… Read more »
I love this series. Please don’t cancel! I even went to Paris to see Versailles because of this show!
I have seen Season 3 episodes 1-5. Are there going to be any more episodes? I cannot find them on Direct TV search. What is Ovation Now?
Versailles is one of my all time favorite series. I find European history of the Royals fascinating. When the first season was about to air, i had to sibscribe to add the Ovation channel just so I could watch the series. I was not disappointed. The show is amazing from the cast to the sets and scenery
I was hoping it would continue until the fall of Versailles focusing on Louie XIV and Marie Antonette. Very disappointed to find out of the cancellation of this series.
Thank you to the cast and crew for the entertainment!!
I love this series and will miss it. There was way too much women nudity. Thats when i would use the bathroom or snack time, but i notice all new shows have massive amounts of women nudity, which sucks balls. But loved this series.