This August, British audiences are set to experience a lavish reimagining of one of literature’s most enduring revenge sagas as The Count of Monte Cristo makes its much-anticipated UK debut. The sweeping new series, a bold co-production between Rai Fiction and international partners, features Sam Claflin in the title role and Jeremy Irons in a scene-stealing supporting turn.

Directed by Bille August (Pelle the Conqueror, Les Misérables) and penned by acclaimed screenwriter Davide Lantieri, this adaptation breathes new life into Alexandre Dumas’ 1844 novel, reinterpreting the classic tale of betrayal, injustice, and vengeance for a modern global audience—without sacrificing its historical depth.

As the closing title of the eighth edition of Canneseries, the movie received a standing ovation and drew strong praise from critics. Cannes, always a breeding ground for buzzworthy TV premieres, proved the perfect stage to unveil a work so steeped in European literary and cinematic tradition. Set against the glittering French Riviera in April, the screening brought together cast and creatives for a red-carpet event that signaled not just a prestigious launch, but the international ambitions behind the project.

Sam Claflin (Peaky Blinders, Me Before You, Posh) delivers a career-defining performance as Edmond Dantès, whose journey from naive sailor to vengeful aristocrat is portrayed with brooding intensity and emotional nuance. Opposite him, Jeremy Irons brings gravitas and a touch of Shakespearean depth to the role of Abbé Faria, the imprisoned mentor who helps Dantès unlock the knowledge—and the will—to exact his revenge. In the cast also Italian stars Michele Riondino as Jacopo, Lino Guanciale as Luigi Vampa, Gabriella Pession as Hermine and Nicolas Maupas (The Sea Beyond) as Albert de Morcerf.

Filmed across evocative European locations, including the Italian coast, Marseille, and Paris, the production spares no effort in grounding its story in rich period detail. Costume designer Alessandro Lai and cinematographer Vittorio Omodei Zorini craft a visual world that is both sumptuously classical and cinematically modern, giving the six-episode series the aesthetic scale of a feature film.

Producer Luca Bernabei of Lux Vide described the adaptation at Cannes as “a story for our time—one about resilience, justice, and the cost of revenge.” That resonance may explain the international appetite for this new take on Dumas’ epic, now finding audiences far beyond its European roots.

With  U&Drama now airing the series in primetime and streaming on demand shortly after, The Count of Monte Cristo is poised to captivate a new generation of viewers. For those familiar with the novel, it offers a thrillingly faithful adaptation; for those encountering it for the first time, it promises an unforgettable journey into darkness and redemption.

Whether you’re drawn by the literary legacy, the high-profile cast, or the grand storytelling, one thing is clear: revenge has never looked this cinematic.

Airing on  U&Drama tonight at 9pm