"A rainha da Pérsia" is a Brazilian religious drama series written by Cristiane Cardoso for Rede Record. The plot is based on the Book of Esther, being the third work based on the biblical character to be produced by Rede Record, after 'A história de Ester' (1998) and its remake in 2010. Unlike the first two which were miniseries, the new adaptation is a drama series and also has a spin-off based on the life of Nehemiah, named after him. While in the series, the king of Persia was called Ahasuerus, this time he is referred to as Xerxes I, since researchers claim he is the same historical figure.
Synopsis[]
The series tells the saga of Esther, from her childhood to adulthood, when she becomes queen appointed by Xerxes I, the king of Persia. Upon taking the position, Esther hides her Jewish identity and becomes obedient to her cousin Mordecai. After overhearing a conversation between two officials about a plan to kill Xerxes, Mordecai informs Esther, who immediately warns the king, and he condemns the rebels to the gallows.
However, Xerxes appoints Haman as prime minister, and after seeing Mordecai's refusal to bow to him, the official orders that all Jews be expelled from Persia. Aware of Haman's desire, Mordecai informs Esther of the plan, and she decides to fight with all her might to protect her people.
Trivia[]
- In August 2023, some rumors surfaced that Record would be producing a third version of the Book of Esther for the year 2024, as Cristiane Cardoso had already written 20 episodes of the plot titled "A rainha da Pérsia". This was later confirmed by the network, which announced a new round of original productions during the breaks of the telenovela "Reis," which at that time was renewed until the eleventh season, with a premiere scheduled for the first half of 2024. The idea was to avoid new reruns in prime time after the failure of teen religious drama series "Todas as garotas em mim" which forced the network to rely on reruns of "Reis", "Jesus" and "Jezabel" between the years 2022 and 2024.
- On November 25, 2023, the team of directors from Seriella, along with the general director, embarked for Marrakech, Morocco, for a scouting trip - to survey the external locations before the arrival of the cast. Shortly after, it was announced that the chosen locations were entirely new, being the first time a Brazilian production was being filmed there.
- Filming began on February 8, 2024, and extended until the first week of March with part of the scenes being shot in Marrakech, Morocco. Sixty actors and forty professionals traveled there, and about 400 scenes were filmed on Moroccan soil. The production was further reinforced by a Moroccan team, the same that worked with Ridley Scott on "Gladiator 2." The studio sequences in Brazil began on March 14, 2024.
- Interestingly, Giuseppe Oristanio was present in all three adaptations of 'Esther' in different roles. Additionally, part of the cast of the plot was also confirmed for the miniseries "Nehemiah," which will take place in the same universe as the story of the Persian queen.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
| ACTOR / ACTRESS | ROLE |
|---|---|
| Nathalia Florentino | Ester, Queen of Pérsia (Hadassa) |
| Carlo Porto | Xerxes I, King of Pérsia |
| André Bankoff | Mordecai |
| Camila Rodrigues | Améstris, Queen of Pérsia |
| Leonardo Medeiros | Hamã |
| Dani Moreno | Yona |
| Iran Malfitano | Himeneu |
| Bárbara Borges | Hellen |
| Leonardo Franco | Memucã |
| Mário Bregieira | Neemias |
| Vinicius Redd | Hegai |
| Giuseppe Oristanio | Harbona |
| Caetano O’Maihlan | Artabano |
| César Cardadeiro | Dario, Prince of Pérsia |
| Gabriela Mag | Artainte |
| Enzo Ciolini | Artaxerxes I, Prince of Pérsia |
| Mily Oliveira | Rodoguna, Princess of Pérsia |
| Mary Oliveira | Amitis, Princess of Pérsia |
| Izabella Bicalho | Zeres |
| Alex Brasil | Meumã |
| Sandro Toledo | Bizta |
| Tom Damasceno | Zetar |
| Rubens Farias | Abagta |
| Felipe Zelenka | Bigtá |
| Guilherme Conradi | Carcas |
| Ed Oliveira | Kamal |
| Guilherme Boury | Hataque |
| Felipe Miguel | Bigtã |
| Bernardo Dugin | Teres |
| Alex Morenno | Saasgaz |
| César Pezzuoli | Carsena |
| Júlio Braga | Marsena |
| Marcos Breda | Setar |
| Alexandre Régis | Admata |
| Sergio Monte | Tarsis |
| Sidney Guedes | Meres |
| João Fernandes | Joel |
| Claudio Cinti | Seraías |
| Adriana Prado | Varda |
| Bruno Ahmed | Enoch |
| Hall Mendes | Esdras |
| Fernanda Junqueira | Hannah |
| Diego Goullart | Aspata |
| Douglas Vergueiro | Parsandata |
| Luan Brum | Dalfom |
| Renan Brum | Porata |
| Daniel Dalcin | Zia |
| Sérgio Abreu | Remim |
| Emily Matte | Aria |
| Esther de Oliveira | Ariana |
| Ranna Bitencourt | Hanna |
| Julia Helen | Ellarê |
| Julia Prado | Amirah |
| Camila Senna | Esme |
| Izu Pradu | Heyran |
| Malu Lazari | Darya |
| Isa Salmen | Farah |
| Amanda Iglesias | Agatha |
| Bruna Botelho | Concubine |
| Alexia Kohler | Concubine |
| Emily Victorino | Concubine |
| Emanuelle Lima | Concubine |
| Erika Rodrigues | Concubine |
| Jasmini Victoria | Concubine |
| Grace Kelly | Concubine |
Guest stars[]
| ACTOR / ACTRESS | ROLE |
|---|---|
| Francisca Queiroz | Artemísia I, Sátrapa de Cária |
| Luckas Moura | Young Neemias |
| Flávio Bisneto | Child Neemias |
| Arthur Monteiro | Hacalias |
| Vicente Alvite | Child Esdras |
| Julia Abdalah | Child Hannah |
| Lorenna Rodrigues | Child Ester (Hadassa) |
| Yuri Izar | Abiail |
| Shantala Cavalcanti | Débora |
| Lorenza Gioia | Child Rodoguna |
| Paolla Gioia | Child Amitis |
| Dudu Pelizzari | Leônidas I, King of Sparta |
| Leo Thomazini | Pantifes |
| Arturo de Cordova | Efialtes |
| Patrick Amstalden | Mardônio |
| Tatsu Carvalho | Sambalate |
| Debora Normandes | Amásis |
| Pedro Paulo | Adalia |
| Gabriel Estevez | Farmasta |
| Benjamin Juan | Arisai |
| Alan Alves | Aridata |
| Samuel Costa | Vaisata |
| Flávio Pereira | Aridai |
| Camila Lorenzo | Elza |
| Flavio Pardal | Hananias |
| Max Magalhães | Courier |
| Cristiano Garcia | Péricles |
| Leandro Braumgratz | Hermes |
| Ronan Horta | / |
| Guilherme Trajano | / |
See also[]
- 'A história de Ester' 1998 Record TV drama series, starring Daniela Camargo and Giuseppe Oristanio.
- 'A história de Ester', 2010 Record TV drama series, starring Gabriela Durlo and Marcos Pitombo.