The Buccaneers is inspired by the unfinished final novel of the same name by Pulitzer Prize winner Edith Wharton. Kristine Frøseth (Looking For Alaska), Alisha Boe (13 Reasons Why), Critics Choice Award nominee Josie Totah (Saved By the Bell (2020)), Aubri Ibrag (Dive Club) and Imogen Waterhouse (The Outpost) star alongside an ensemble cast featuring SAG Award winner Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Mia Threapleton (Dangerous Liaisons), Josh Dylan (Noughts and Crosses), Guy Remmers, Matthew Broome and Barney Fishwick (Call the Midwife).
And that's not all. The soundtrack to the series is shaping up to be one of the most iconic of this generation. Olivia Rodrigo’s “all-american bitch” introduces “The Buccaneers” in this new trailer, and the music-driven series features an edgy, female-forward soundtrack that includes Miya Folick’s brand new single, “What We Wanna,” along with songs from Taylor Swift, Maggie Rogers, boygenius, Brandi Carlile, Warpaint, Lucius, Gracie Abrams, Sharon Van Etten and more.
The story is about two sisters named Nan (Frøseth) and Virginia St. George (Waterhouse). They go to England in the hope of marrying wealthy, upper-class British men. However, it is not easy for them. They must learn how to fit into high society, deal with ruthless snobbery, and become involved in romantic entanglements along their journey.
The novel explores themes of class, social mobility, and the clash of American and European cultures during the Golden Age. It offered a critical look at the world of the American heirs seeking entry into British high society and the challenges they faced in navigating this new and unfamiliar world.
The book The Buccaneers was unfinished by Wharton at the time of her death in 1937. The novel was completed by Marion Mainwaring and published posthumously in 1938. The term "buccaneers" refers to these American women who, with their considerable dowries, attempted marriages with European nobility, often seen as a form of social climbing. These marriages were intended to increase the status and prestige of American families in the eyes of the European aristocracy.
The Buccaneers will release worldwide on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, followed by new episodes weekly every Wednesday through December 13.
You can watch The Buccaneers' debut trailer below.