Elle Fanning is saying one last huzzah to The Great.
The sometimes-true black dramedy was canceled at Hulu after three seasons in August, right in the thick of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Thus, its stars, including Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, were prohibited from speaking on the sad news — until now.
Fresh off the strike ending last week, Fanning took to her Instagram on Sunday to share some behind-the-scenes images from her time on the acclaimed show, and to pay tribute to it.
“Scrolling down memory lane,” she began her post. “I haven’t been able to properly share my thoughts after the news of The Great‘s cancellation. This show has meant the world to me. The experiences shared. The memories I’ll never forget.”
Christopher Raphael/Hulu
She called series writer, creator, and executive producer Tony McNamara “a certified genius,” and credited the role of Russia’s Catherine the Great with shaping her personally.
“Through playing Catherine I discovered parts of myself I didn’t know I had,” she wrote. “I love every crew member and cast member deeply. And although I won’t get to lace up my corset one last time, I am forever proud of what we accomplished together.”
She concluded, “In my mind Catherine is left ‘shaking it all night long’ finally stepping into the leader we always knew she would become, a multitude of lovers thrown in for good measure, many macaroons, vodka shots, long winded speeches, battles of wit, and of course HUUU-F—ING-ZZAHHHHSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🥂”
Hoult, whose endearingly awful character Peter was shockingly killed off in the middle of season 3, commented on his costar’s post, writing, “Too many brilliant moments on and off screen. YOU ARE THE GREATEST ❤️.”
While the show’s viewership data is unknown (an issue that was at the heart of this year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes), the series was critically acclaimed, earning several Emmy nominations over the course of its run for Fanning, Hoult, and more. Fanning also received nominations from SAG, Critics’ Choice, Independent Spirits and the Golden Globes for her performance.
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