The HBO series will return
Less than a month after the season premiered both Stateside and in Europe, the period drama has been given a season two renewal.
'The Gilded Age' will be back for at least one more season. Only four episodes into season one, the Julian Fellowes' creation has earned itself enough interest for a second trip back to Fifth Avenue in New York City in the 1880s.
The current season is made up of 10 episodes, four of which have premiered on HBO (available on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW here in Ireland) with Cynthia Nixon ('Sex and the City') and Christine Baranski ('Mamma Mia!') in central roles.
Basically the US version of 'Downton Abbey' from creator Julian Fellowes, the series follows two wealthy sisters (Nixon and Baranski) who are greeted by new neighbours across the street (played by Connie Coon and Morgan Spector). The series focuses on corporate monopolies and the industrialisation age that the US and New York City were going through at the turn of the 20th Century. While the opening episode failed to catch much attention and was rather superficial in nature, the episodes since then have picked up some pace.
'The Gilded Age' had apparently been on Fellowes' books for quite some time, being in development for 10 years. HBO clearly sees potential for the period drama, so it will be interesting to see if multiple seasons are created further down the line.
Speaking about his new series on The Hollywood Reporter's TV podcast, Fellowes alluded to a 'Downton Abbey' crossover - maybe. When asked if his two period dramas were set in the same universe, he said: "I never saw the series as connected because 'The Gilded Age' starts 30 years before 'Downton Abbey'.
"I’m not saying I would never have a character from 'Downton Abbey' at some point, but these are two completely separate shows."
'The Gilded Age' continues on Sky Atlantic and NOW every Tuesday, one day after its US premiere.