We’re always trying to track what historical costume movies and TV shows are coming up. I always feel like we’ve Just Posted one of these, and then I go check and it’s been months. So, yay, we get some new stuff! As always, you can keep an eye on what’s forthcoming on our Upcoming Movies page! Editor’s note: Due to the ongoing pandemic, some theatrical releases are being rescheduled and some theater chains are temporarily closed, so please be patient as we update our Upcoming Movies page.
The Banker (March 20 on Apple TV)
“In the 1960s two African-American entrepreneurs hire a working-class white man to pretend to be the head of their business empire while they pose as a janitor and chauffeur.”
The English Game (March 20 on Netflix)
From Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. Based on true events, this 19th-century drama follows two footballers on opposite sides of a class divide.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (March 20 on Netflix)
Miniseries about America’s first black, self-made female millionaire set in the 1900s.
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (March 23 on Acorn)
Phryne and friends solve a big-screen mystery in the 1920s. Costumes by Margot Wilson.
Radium Girls (April 3)
In the 1920s, a group of factory workers advocate for safer work conditions after some of their colleagues become ill from radium exposure.
World on Fire (April 5 on PBS)
WWII drama centered on the lives of ordinary people affected by the war. Costumes by Nic Ede.
Belgravia (April 12 on Epix)
Julian Fellowes is adapting his novel, set in 1840s London, about the mixing of the aristocracy with the emerging industrial nouveau riche.
The Secret Garden (April 17)
Colin Firth stars in the Frances Hodgson Burnett story. Costumes by Michele Clapton.
Antebellum (April 24)
Janelle Monáe stars in a thriller/horror film that appears to bridge the present day with pre-Civil War slavery. Costumes by Mary Zophres.
Radioactive (April 24)
A story of the scientific and romantic passions of Marie and Pierre Curie and the reverberation of their discoveries throughout the 20th century. Costumes by Consolata Boyle.
True History of the Kelly Gang (April 24)
The story of Australian bush-ranger Ned Kelly and his gang as they flee from authorities during the 1870s.
Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (April 26 on Showtime)
Series inspired by Penny Dreadful, set in 1938 Los Angeles, exploring a mix of supernatural and reality.
The Personal History of David Copperfield (May 8)
Dickens adaptation with Tilda Swinton, Gwendoline Christie, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi, and more. Costumes by Suzie Harman.
The Great (May 15 on Hulu)
Comic take on young Catherine the Great.
The Last Vermeer (May 22)
An artist is suspected of selling a valuable painting to the Nazis, but there is more to the story than meets the eye.
Robert the Bruce (June 28)
The story of nobleman-turned-outlaw hero who was was crowned king of Scots in the 14th century.
The King’s Man (September 18)
Ralph Fiennes in an Edwardian secret service/Marvel movie. Costumes by Michele Clapton.
Mulan (to be announced – 2020)
A young Chinese maiden disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father. A live-action film based on Disney’s Mulan. March U.S. wide release has been post-phoned.
No U.S. Release Date
Blithe Spirit
A spiritualist (Judi Dench) accidentally summons the spirit of a writer’s (Dan Stevens) deceased first wife. Based on the Noël Coward play.
Casanova, Last Love
Aging Casanova goes to London, falls in love. Costumes by Pierre-Jean Larroque.
De Gaulle
Paris, June 1940. The de Gaulle couple is confronted with the military and political collapse of France. Costumes by Sergio Ballo & Anaïs Romand.
Which of these upcoming frock flicks are you most excited about?
So, is the Robert the Bruce movie a direct sequel to Braveheart?
Or the Outlaw King?
I think it’s a more historical version of the same story. It premiered in the UK late last year & got decent reviews from ppl who hate Braveheart, so there’s that ;)
I’m just so heartbroken over
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears. I really wanted to see it on the big screen, but I knew the U.S. screenings would be limited to begin with. Then they announced a date for my small city! I bought a ticket the day they went on sale. But that date was … this coming Saturday. I got an email from the theater, along with a refund, last night. :( Maybe they’ll reschedule it, but I doubt it. Still, I’ll be glad to see it on Acorn.Honestly I’m considering getting an Acorn subscription. There’s so many good shows on there, and I need to be able to see Miss Fisher!
We had tickets for a screening as well that was cancelled. Sad times, when we NEED entertainment!
And Antebellem’s premiere was just post-phoned from April as of today with no ETA yet.
I’m hoping all of you at FrockFlicks are well and have enough food and staples during this COVD plague.
Now I’m looking forward to Self-Made, Radioactive, Robert the Bruce (hopefully based on the Traintor trilogy of books), Belgravia, World on Fire, Last Vermeer (I’m familiar with the Nazi forgeries) and De Gaulle. Miss Fisher, I’ll stream, and last but not least Natalie Dormer in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.
Some of these have been postponed. I believe the David Copperfield one has been indefinitely.
As I said in the Editor’s Note, please be patient as we update the Upcoming Movies page!
Radium Girls is now post-phoned indefinitely. I’m particularly sad about that one — it was only shown once at a film festival, & I’ve been waiting for a wider release for over a year :(
That’s too bad. I recently read a non fiction book about them, and am curious how the movie holds up.
I have been waiting to see the CJ Walker story and the True story of the Kelly Gang. I have been obsessed with both stories since I heard about them on Stuff You Missed in History Class.
I watched an interview with Octavia S. recently; I can’t wait to see her as Madam Walker, also Judi Dench as Madame Arcati. Keep well, you Frock Mistresses; we need you during these stressful days.
Speaking of Dame Judi, there are some charming photos and clips of her here, including the almost-famous PSA about handwashing: https://twitter.com/GylesB1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
I love the one of her in puppy ears that she tweeted to her daughter, Finty.
The Nightingale trailer doesn’t look like its description; are there two films with the same name?
Yup, you’re right — Kendra mixed them up! There was a different ‘Nightingale’ late last year that was set in the mid-19th-c. & was a very dark story.
I am very excited about the Madam CJ Walker movie, whether in the theater or VOD.
I would suggest that anyone who watches The Last Vermeer read The Man Who Made Vermeers by Jonathan Lopez (https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Made-Vermeers-Pa/dp/0547247842).
Loved the David Copperfield – very glad I got to see it before everything went pear-shaped. (Costumes not invariably right, but so much zest and genuine diversity in the film.)
Darn it, only Belgravia appeals to me…not much to look forward to here. Possibly The Great, though she has been done to death, no offense. All we need now is another Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre…
Self-Made is about an awesome woman AND isn’t postponed. I”mm looking forward to it.
I am looking forward to most of these, but especially The Great. It looks hilariously charming in an offbeat kind of way and I’m becoming quite a fan of Elle Fanning. I absolutely love her in costume dramas, she has a period look that suits them well.
Not sure why they are releasing three of these things on March 20th. Not that I don’t love having them all at my fingertips, but… goodness, spread them out a little! :P
Bummer so many of these have been postponed, but we’ll get them sooner or later — on the big screen or a small one.
I LOVE Ralph Fiennes and am so looking forward to seeing him as an early 20th-century bad ass in The King’s Man. He’s the only reason I’m going to see it, as I thought the first movie in the series was so tacky and terrible that I didn’t bother to see the second one. I have higher hopes for The King’s Man as a costume drama prequel. I’m looking forward to The Banker and World on Fire. I was excited about the Madame CJ Walker story and Belgravia, but now I fear they will be cheesy, despite having talented people involved. I didn’t know about The Last Vermeer or Blithe Spirit until reading this post. The Last Vermeer looks very interesting, but that overblown music in the trailer makes it seem like it will be cheesy. Fingers crossed that was just tacky trailer music and not an indication of the mood and tone of the movie. Guy Pearce and Claes Bang are talented, and the look of the movie is enticing. Noel Coward was a genius and Judi Dench is a genius, so I think Blithe Spirit will probably be genius. Thanks so much for letting us know what to look forward to!
Is the Green Knight Too fantasy-y to qualify as a frock flick? I’m hopping the costumes will be more interesting than the teaser suggested once we see more of it.
I watched the trailer & it looks very fantasy / magical. Not saying I won’t watch it, but I doubt we’ll review it for the blog ;)
Watched the first episode of Belgravia and thus far it’s much better written and costumed than other recent dramas like Sanditon etc. Also not one woman has her hair down. It’s up people, rejoice!!!
ALL OF THEM. I’m a sucker for a period film.
With the exception of Belgravia, there is nothing here that interests me. Maybe Casanova but it looks relentlessly vulgar and I have no patience for that anymore.
Blithe Spirit looks like fun, but do we need another David Copperfield? Dickens did write so many other novels.
Washington Post’s article on Self Made includes a panel of images. Thought you’d like to know! https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/03/23/netflix-self-made-madam-cj-walker-black-hair/
(By the way, the paper is free to government & military with .GOV and .MIL emails, and there’s an academic rate for K-12 and college students, faculty,staff. ENJOY!)
Lots of great flicks and tv shows–hope I get to see them. Just got an Apple TV free trial so I will plan to watch The Bankers. Self-Made looks great. Also interested in Radium Girls, World on Fire, Radioactive, The Last Vermeer, and De Gaulle. Curious about Secret Garden, David Copperfield, and Blithe Spirit (looks pretty funny). Hope these don’t all get pushed so far, but who knows with this crazy situation. I am grateful I have access to Netflix, Prime, and Apple TV now.