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Julian Fellowes's The Gilded Age has been renewed for season 2

Photo credit: HBO
Photo credit: HBO

Julian Fellowes's sumptuous period drama The Gilded Age will be returning for a second season, HBO has confirmed.

Set in 1882 in New York, the Gilded Age was an era of rapid economic growth, which created a social divide between those in the upper echelons with inherited wealth, and those from lower classes with new money, also known as the 'nouveau riche'.

From the creator of Downton Abbey, the story follows Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), the orphaned daughter of a Union general, who moves to New York to stay with her aunts, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon) – both hailing from the old money world.

Marian is accompanied by Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), an accomplished African-American woman, and both women find themselves trapped between a modern, progressive age, and the stuffy, established rules of an aristocratic society.

Christine Baranski, who plays monied matriarch Agnes van Rhijn, has addressed comparisons between her character and Downton Abbey's iconic Countess Dowager, played by Dame Maggie Smith. Agnes van Rhijn is strongly opposed to the uprising of the so-called 'nouveau riche' aka those from lower classes who have acquired 'new money', having herself been born into an upper class dynasty and inherited wealth that dates back to the 17th century.

Photo credit: Sky/HBO
Photo credit: Sky/HBO

"It's hard not to think that because of her position in society, but the Dowager is real landed aristocracy," Baranski told EW. "She is really an aristocrat. Agnes is old money in New York, but she doesn't have aristocratic background. But, she is really holding on to the old value system. Both these women are elitists and snobs."

Baraknski added: "I followed her career. There's a career that I would aspire to or hold as the gold standard. That's all I'll say. You can draw whatever comparisons. No one writes a snob like Julian Fellowes, so I'm lucky to have some of these marvellously condescending remarks."

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

Here's everything we know about The Gilded Age...

The Gilded Age: Release date

In the UK, The Gilded Age is airing on Sky Atlantic and is available to stream on NOW TV now.

The Gilded Age: The plot

The Gilded Age in America was one of prosperity and rapid economic growth, which created a social war between aristocrats with inherited money and trust funds, and those from a 'lower' class background who were earning vast sums of money.

HBO says: "Against this backdrop of change, the story begins in 1882 — introducing young Marian Brook, the orphaned daughter of a Union general, who moves into the New York City home of her thoroughly old money aunts Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook. Accompanied by Peggy Scott, an accomplished African-American woman, Marian inadvertently becomes enmeshed in a social war between one of her aunts, a scion of the old money set, and her stupendously rich neighbours, a ruthless railroad tycoon and his ambitious wife, George and Bertha Russell."

On the cusp of the modern age, Marian has to decide whether to follow the established rules of society, or break away and forge her own path.

The Gilded Age: The cast

The Gilded Age boasts a stellar ensemble cast, which is led by Louisa Jacobson, daughter of Meryl Streep, as Marian Brook. Christine Baranski stars as Agnes van Rhijn, Marian's stubborn aristocratic aunt, while Cynthia Nixon plays sister to Agnes, Ada Brook.

The Leftovers and Sinner star Carrie Coon plays Bertha Russell, neighbour to Agnes and Ada, who has come into vast sums of money thanks to her financial genius husband. Ruthless in business, Morgan Spector plays Bertha's husband, George.

Photo credit: HBO
Photo credit: HBO

Tony nominated Broadway star and actress Denée Benton plays Peggy Scott, a young, ambitious writer who is accompanying Marian to New York. Both women are seeking a fresh start form an unlikely friendship as they begin this next chapter of their lives in New York, but Peggy has a secret that will eventually be revealed causing a tectonic shift in her world.

The cast also includes Jeanne Tripplehorn, Taissa Fermiga and Blake Ritson.

Julian Fellowes is the creator, writer and executive producer on the series, while Gareth Neame will executive produce, who also worked on Downton Abbey the series and film.

The Gilded Age: Will there be a season two?

HBO has confirmed that The Gilded Age will return for season 2.

"A most welcome invitation. #GildedAgeHBO is set to return for Season 2," HBO's official account announced in a post on Instagram.

Meanwhile, it was recently reported that Julian Fellowes had already begun work on a second season (via Radio Times) before it had been officially renewed. Executive producer Gareth Neame – who also executive produced the Downton Abbey series and film adaptation – said they had been formulating ideas for a second run.

"The truth is, we're always getting the second season ready long before we know whether it goes ahead or not," Neame told press at a recent event for the period drama. "Because, you know, the moment we know we're going ahead, we have to start – the cameras have to start rolling. So you sort of have to prepare. So we're already underway with ideas for the second season."

The Gilded Age is airing now on Sky Atlantic and is available to stream on NOW TV.



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