Netflix Releases Epic Alexander The Great Trailer
History buffs and Netflix bingers rejoice: the streaming giant has released an excessively epic trailer for their upcoming documentary series, Alexander: The Making of a God. In an onslaught of sequences featuring recognizable figures from Alexander the Great’s life—Darius III, the Persian king and his rival, Alexander’s mother and significant influence, Olympias, and his murdered father, King Phillip II of Macedonia—the trailer delivers some serious thrills.
The six-part docuseries will fuse riveting period-piece drama with expert interviews. Expect a rich experience, alternating between high-octane battle sequences and historians conveying the fascinating world of Ancient Greece, Persia, and beyond.
Capturing the astonishing achievements of Alexander the Great, who conquered most of the known Western world in just under six years, Netflix’s Alexander the Great series will premiere globally on January 31.
Alexander the Great began life as an exiled young man following his father’s assassination. Rising from less-than-Great circumstances, the legendary conqueror’s relentless ambition and military genius led him to unite Greece and forge an empire–one extending from the Balkans to modern-day India.
It was the most extensive empire the world had ever seen, and it still astonishes historians and history buffs today. Unsurprisingly, his lightning-fast conquests and strategic prowess earned him a legendary status; they didn’t–and don’t–call him Alexander the Great for nothing, after all.
Boasting a unique blend of historical insights (the “docu” side of the series) with genuinely engaging dramatic reenactment (the “drama”), Netflix’s Alexander: The Making of a God stars Buck Braithwaite as the conqueror himself. At the same time, Mido Hamada will portray his rival, the Persian King Darius III.
Interestingly, the series also delves into the more intimate nuances of Alexander’s life, including his deep and complex relationship with his lifelong friend and purported lover, Hephaestion.
The show also boasts a blend of on-sight archeology (the trailer features a notable shot of an archeological excavation) presently unfolding in Alexandria, Egypt, by Greek archaeologist Calliope Limneos-Papakosta. Strengthening the story with academic insights and historical authenticity, the real-deal findings offer a fresh perspective on the Greek conqueror’s legacy.
The Netflix series is produced by Tailfeather Productions in collaboration with Lion TV; Lucy van Beek and Nick Catliff served as executive producers on the Alexander the Great project.
Eventually revered by his subjects as a deity, Alexander’s conquest of the Persian Empire, the largest of its time, eventuated the subsequent spread of Greek culture across his vast territories. This humongous imperial shift ushered in the Hellenistic Era, a period characterized by a fusion of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian influences, significantly shaping art, architecture, and literature.
Of course, Alexander’s most well-known city, Alexandria in Egypt, would emerge as a significant center of education and culture in the ancient world.
Considering he conquered the known world, it is all the more impressive when you take into account the age Alexander died: 32. In his wake, as Netflix’s show will document, Alexander left behind a vast empire spanning three continents—alongside a legacy that profoundly impacted Western civilization.
The source of fascination for centuries, his life story was previously adapted by director Oliver Stone into the 2004 film Alexander, starring Colin Farrell.
While that film received mixed reviews, we’re hoping Netflix’s Alexander docuseries will end up being another must-watch, binge-worthy title on the streaming giant.
