Everything we know about the ‘Mad Men’ creator’s new show ‘The Romanoffs’

Ever since Mad Men left our screens in 2015, we’ve been waiting for more from creator Matthew Weiner and his ability to craft compelling storylines and fascinating character arcs. Luckily, the wait is (nearly) over, as the first trailer to his upcoming new show The Romanoffs dropped last week just a few months before it premieres on Amazon Prime. The anthology series centers around people who believe themselves to be the modern-day descendants of the Russian royal family. To mark the show’s forthcoming release, check out the teaser trailer below before checking out our rundown of everything we know about The Romanoffs so far:

Amazon @PrimeVideo sets October 12 debut for #TheRomanoffs. pic.twitter.com/U0jy1UT0vU

— The Romanoffs (@TheRomanoffs) July 28, 2018

It’s out pretty damn soon

The series premiered on October 12, 2018. Eight episodes rolled out weekly through November 23, 2018. Amazon did not renew the show for a second season, leaving the single season as the complete run.

The plot studies what’s left of a grand heritage

As mentioned, the globe-hopping anthology is set to follow the stories of people who believe themselves to be descendants of the Russian royal family the Romanovs, who ruled Russia from the 17th century until they were ousted from power by the Bolsheviks in 1917. According to The Hollywood Reporter, each episode will focus on a different family and will also include the infamous myth of Anastasia. “The reason that I picked the Romanovs is that in an era where we have social media and so much theoretical connection to each other, it really seems like we’re further apart than ever,” Weiner explained. “And I love this idea that these characters believe themselves to be, whether they are or not, descendants of this last autocratic family who are part of one of the great true-crime stories of all time. I also love that it’s the chance to talk about nature versus nurture, what they have in common and what is left of a grand heritage.” Episodes feature standalone stories in various global locations.

The cast and crew is filled with Mad Men alums

Much to the delight of Mad Men fans, there are numerous cast & crew members from the classic AMC show getting involved with The Romanoffs, including Christina Hendricks and John Slattery. It’s yet to be announced what their roles will entail, but we do know they’ll be joining a star-studded cast including Diane Lane, Isabelle Huppert, Jack Huston, Amanda Peet, Aaron Eckhart, Marthe Keller, Corey Stoll, Andrew Rannells, and Paul Reiser. Behind the scenes, Janie Bryant will design the costumes for the program along with Wendy Chuck, who is best known for her work on Spotlight. Deadline reported back in August last year that fourteen Mad Men creative team members have joined The Romanoffs, including production designers Henry Dunn and Christopher Brown, hair and makeup heads Theresa Rivers and Lana Horochowski, and casting team members Carrie Audino, Laura Schiff, and Kendra Clark. “It’s an honor to be working with these exceptional storytellers and collaborators – many of whom I know from Mad Men – and all of whom are wonderful artists with incredible vision,” declared Weiner. “We are all looking forward to bringing this unique project to life.” Christina Hendricks and John Slattery appeared in multiple episodes. Additional cast included Kathryn Hahn and Noah Wyle in some episodes.

The Romanoffs has a royal budget

To give you an idea of the scale of this project, The Romanoffs has a $50 million budget and was shot across three continents, although we’re guessing a fair chunk of those funds was assigned to the A-list cast. Filmed across North America, Europe, and Asia, locations included Romania.

Critical and audience reception

The series landed mixed reviews. It earned a 48 percent Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 5.8 out of 10. Metacritic assigned a score of 56 out of 100. Audience scores hovered around 63 percent across major platforms, while IMDb users rated the show 7.0 out of 10 based on more than 7,000 votes. Critics noted the ambition of the anthology format but often cited uneven pacing and tonal shifts between episodes.

Episode structure and standout stories

The eight standalone episodes released weekly. Stories unfolded across cities that included Paris, New York, and Mexico City. One installment, “The Violet Hour,” drew particular attention for its Paris setting and focus on a fading aristocratic family. Each hour stayed self-contained, with no recurring characters linking the episodes.

Streaming availability and legacy

All eight episodes remain available on Amazon Prime Video. The show was not renewed, and Matthew Weiner has not launched another major series since its conclusion. For viewers interested in the creator’s post-Mad Men work, the anthology now serves as a single-season artifact rather than the start of an ongoing franchise.

Production challenges and behind-the-scenes notes

Amazon severed ties with The Weinstein Company in 2017 after allegations against Harvey Weinstein surfaced. Production continued under Amazon’s direct oversight. The $50 million budget supported shoots across three continents and required coordination among multiple international crews. Costume designer Janie Bryant and the extended Mad Men creative team handled the period and contemporary looks that shifted with each location.