Franklin Trailer: Michael Douglas Plays The Founding Father In New Apple TV+ Series

Despite his fame in other historical adaptations and, you know, history, Benjamin Franklin doesn't really feature much in Hamilton, possibly the most well-known blend of American Revolutionary fact and fiction in recent years. But the kite-flying, phrase-spewing Founding Father is now the focus of an Apple TV+ drama starring Michael Douglas. Get all about the Benjamin here:

Not claiming to be a cradle to grave treatment of Franklin's life, Franklin – adapted from Stacy Schiff's book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, And The Birth Of America – instead focuses on one specific chunk, when he's tasked with a vital mission. As American independence hangs by a thread, conflict raging with Britain, he's dispatched to France to convince its monarchy to help a burgeoning republic survive some serious birth pangs.

At the ripe old age of 70 (albeit still with a lust for life), Franklin, with zero diplomatic background but an abundance of smarts, outmaneuvered British spies, French informers and some frenemies to help bring about the Franco-American alliance of 1778.

With A Quiet Place's Noah Jupe as Temple, Franklin's grandson, alongside Thibault de Montalembert, Ludivine Sagnier, Eddie Marsan and Theodore Pellerin as Marquis de Lafayette (yes, we sang it in our heads too).

Franklin will launch on Apple TV+ on 12 April with the first three episodes, followed by one weekly until the season finale on 17 May.