Homeland’s Claire Danes making epic TV return in The Essex Serpent as Keira Knightley quits amid childcare concerns
HOMELAND star Claire Danes is set to make an epic return to TV screens in The Essex Serpent.
Keira Knightley had been lined up to star in the adaptation of Sarah Perry's hit novel but quit the show due to childcare concerns.
reports that Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines actress Claire will now portray the role of Cora.
The Apple TV+ series is based on the 2016 novel of the same name, which tells the story of Cora, a widow who was in an abusive marriage, who leaves London for a small Essex village.
Travelling with her son, she soon becomes very invested in a local myth about an ancient serpent feared to have reawakened.
Back in October 2020, the drama was put on “hiatus” after mother-of-two Keira, who would have likely pocketed a six-figure salary, told producers she would no longer be taking part.
Her agent said she “had to unfortunately pull out” of the project for “family reasons”.
The spokesman said that because Covid cases were increasing in the UK - bringing potentially stricter lockdown measures - “there wasn't a comfortable scenario for Keira that could be put in place for an extended period of childcare required for the four-and-a-half-month production”.
Last month, Keira revealed she will not film any more sex scenes with male directors because it makes her feel “very uncomfortable”.
Asked why she often has a “no nudity” clause written into her movie contracts, Keira replied: “It’s partly vanity and also it’s the male gaze.
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“If I was making a story that was about that journey of motherhood and body exception I feel like, I’m sorry, but that would have to be with a female film-maker.
“I don’t have an absolute ban, but I kind of do with men.
“I don’t want it to be those horrible sex scenes where you’re all greased up and everybody is grunting. I’m not interested in doing that.”