Get Ready for Circe: HBO Max’s Epic Greek Mythology Series! 🌞✨

📣 Calling all mythology lovers and fans of Madeline Miller’s bestselling novel Circe! HBO Max is bringing the enchanting and powerful story of the goddess Circe to life in an 8-episode limited series that promises to redefine Greek mythology with a bold, feminist perspective. Here’s everything you need to know about this highly anticipated adaptation! 🧙‍♀️🏝️

What’s Circe About?

Based on Madeline Miller’s 2018 novel, Circe is a subversive retelling of the life of Circe, the daughter of the sun god Helios and the nymph Perse. Born without the divine prowess of her siblings, Circe is an outcast in the world of gods—mocked for her human-like voice and overlooked by her family. But when she discovers her hidden power of witchcraft, everything changes. Exiled to the island of Aiaia by Zeus for her defiance, Circe hones her magical craft, tames wild beasts, and encounters legendary figures like the Minotaur, Daedalus, Medea, and the cunning Odysseus.

Through love, loss, and epic confrontations with gods and monsters, Circe must decide where she truly belongs: with the immortal gods of her birth or the mortal world she grows to cherish. This is a story of transformation, resilience, and a woman reclaiming her power in a world that seeks to silence her. Expect breathtaking visuals, emotional depth, and a fierce female lens that reimagines a mythological icon

The Creative Dream Team

• Writers & Executive Producers: Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, the powerhouse duo behind Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Jurassic World, and Disney’s Mulan. Known for crafting emotionally rich characters within expansive worlds, they’re set to bring Circe’s journey to vivid life.
• Producers: Chernin Entertainment (Planet of the Apes trilogy) and Endeavor Content, ensuring a high-quality production with a cinematic feel.
• Source Material: Madeline Miller’s novel, a #1 New York Times bestseller, has sold over two million copies and won the 2019 Indie Choice Award. Miller herself has praised the team for keeping Circe at the center of her own epic story.

Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max’s head of original content, says, “Circe tells an epic story of love, loss, tragedy, and immortal conflict, all through the eyes of a fierce female lens.” We couldn’t agree more

Casting Buzz

While no official casting has been announced, fans and outlets have been buzzing with dream casts! Speculated actresses include:

• Florence Pugh: A fan favorite for her ability to portray complex, powerful women.
• Jenna Ortega, Vanessa Kirby, Jessica Henwick, Sadie Sink, or Kathryn Newton: Each could bring unique depth to Circe’s evolution from awkward nymph to formidable sorceress. Kirby’s emotional range (The Crown) and Henwick’s genre versatility (Game of Thrones) make them standout picks, while Sink (Stranger Things) could nail Circe’s loneliness and defiance.
• Fun fact: HBO could opt for a redhead to nod to Bernadette Peters’ Circe in the 1997 The Odyssey miniseries!

Stay tuned for casting updates, as Miller has promised exciting news on this front

Production Status

Announced in July 2019, Circe received a straight-to-series order for eight episodes, acquired in a competitive bidding war by HBO Max. The series is written as a miniseries, perfect for capturing the novel’s contained yet sweeping narrative. As of the latest updates, it’s in pre-production, with no confirmed release date. While early estimates hoped for a 2023 premiere, delays (possibly due to industry mergers or perfection of casting) suggest a likely 2025 or 2026 debut.

Despite the wait, the lack of recent updates likely means the team is working hard to do justice to Miller’s lush, poetic storytelling. The series’ dreamy, centuries-spanning quality and fantastical elements (think gods, titans, and magical transformations) will require innovative visuals, and we’re excited to see how HBO Max leans into the otherworldly aesthetic

Why You Should Be Excited

• Feminist Powerhouse: Circe reclaims a character often villainized in Homer’s The Odyssey (yep, the one turning men into pigs!) and gives her a voice, exploring themes of identity, power, and resistance in a patriarchal world. It’s perfect for the #TimesUp era.
• Mythological Epic: Expect encounters with iconic figures and creatures, from the Minotaur to Scylla, all woven into Circe’s personal journey.
• Inclusive Potential: Spanning continents and centuries, the series has a chance to embrace diverse casting, reflecting the global scope of Greek mythology.
• Literary Sensation: The novel’s critical acclaim (NPR, The New York Times, Sunday Times) and massive fanbase ensure a built-in audience eager for this adaptation.

What’s Next?

While we await more details, dive into (or revisit) Madeline Miller’s Circe to prepare—it’s a must-read for fans of Greek mythology or feminist retellings! You can also check out Miller’s The Song of Achilles or her short story Galatea for more of her magical prose. Follow @hbomax and @madeline.e.miller on Instagram for updates, and let us know your dream casting in the comments!

📌 Circe is poised to be HBO Max’s next big hit, blending the epic scope of Game of Thrones with the intimate, character-driven drama of The Crown. Are you ready to meet the Witch of Aiaia? Share your excitement below! 👇