Few stories have lasted as long as Alexandre Dumas’s tale of a wronged sailor who returns as a wealthy stranger to punish the men who ruined him. The 2024 television version is an eight-episode, English-language miniseries that takes its time with the novel, and it has drawn attention from fans of period drama and readers of the original book alike. This guide explains what the series is about, who stars in it, how it was made, when it was released in different countries, and where viewers can watch it.
What Is The Count of Monte Cristo (2024)?
The Count of Monte Cristo is a miniseries directed by the Danish filmmaker Bille August and based on Dumas’s novel of the same name. It has eight episodes of about 52 minutes each, so the whole story runs to roughly seven hours, which gives it far more room than any single film. It is a European co-production between France and Italy, filmed in English so that it can travel easily to audiences around the world.
The main character, Edmond Dantès, is played by the British actor Sam Claflin. The series was produced by the Italian company Palomar together with the French company DEMD Productions, both part of the Mediawan group, and it was developed with support from the public broadcasters RAI in Italy and France Télévisions in France. Entourage Ventures also took part in the project.
The Story: A Quick Overview Without Major Spoilers
Edmond Dantès is a young sailor from Marseille who seems to have everything ahead of him. He is about to be married to Mercedes, the woman he loves, and he has just been promoted after taking command of his late captain’s ship during a crisis at sea. Then a small group of people who envy him or fear him falsely accuse him of treason, and he is thrown into the Château d’If, a grim island fortress off the coast of Marseille, without a trial.
In prison he meets Abbé Faria, an educated priest who becomes his teacher and friend. Over the years the abbé teaches him languages, science, and the ways of the world, and before he dies he tells Edmond about a huge treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo. After a daring escape, Edmond finds the treasure and rebuilds himself as the Count of Monte Cristo, a rich and mysterious figure who can move through high society unrecognized. He then sets out to make each of the people who betrayed him pay, and the series follows how that plan grows, how it hurts people who never wronged him, and what it costs Edmond himself.
The series keeps the emotional heart of the book. Revenge drives the plot, but the story keeps asking whether vengeance can ever bring peace, and Sam Claflin has said in interviews that despite being a revenge thriller, there is a great deal of love at the center of it.
Main Cast and Characters
The series brings together actors from England, France, Italy, and Denmark, which suits its European production. The best-known names include:
- Sam Claflin as Edmond Dantès, the sailor who becomes the Count. Claflin is also credited as an executive producer. He is widely known for The Hunger Games films, Peaky Blinders, and Daisy Jones & the Six.
- Jeremy Irons as Abbé Faria, the wise prisoner who changes Edmond’s life. This was his third collaboration with director Bille August.
- Ana Girardot as Mercedes, Edmond’s fiancée, whose life is turned upside down by his disappearance.
- Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Fernand Mondego, one of the men behind Edmond’s downfall and a rival for Mercedes.
- Blake Ritson as Danglars, Edmond’s crewmate and another of his enemies.
- Nicolas Maupas, Lino Guanciale, Michele Riondino, Gabriella Pession, and Karla-Simone Spence also appear in the wider cast.
Casting reportedly took almost half a year, according to the director, and reviewers have singled out Claflin, Irons, Riondino, Ritson, and Nicholas Farrell for especially strong performances.
Behind the Camera: Director, Writers, and Music
Bille August is one of the few directors to have won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival twice, for Pelle the Conqueror and The Best Intentions. Pelle the Conqueror also won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. His experience with large literary adaptations, including The House of the Spirits and a version of Les Misérables, made him a natural choice for a story of this size.
The screenplay is credited to Sandro Petraglia and Greg Latter, and the score was composed by Volker Bertelmann, who is known for his film music work. The producer is Carlo Degli Esposti. Together, this team aimed to create a version that feels grand and carefully designed while staying close to the emotional structure of Dumas’s book.
Where and When It Was Filmed
Filming took place from August to December 2023 across France, Italy, and Malta. Paris locations, including the Palais-Royal, stand in for the glamorous world of the Count’s later life, while the Mediterranean settings help recreate Marseille, the sea voyages, and the island prison. The series is known for its detailed costumes, large sets, and rich visual style, which the Cannes festival described as meticulous aesthetics and grandiose sets.
Release Dates Around the World
The series was released in stages, which is why you may see different dates online. Its first public screening took place at the Rome Film Festival on 19 October 2024. It then reached viewers in Switzerland on 15 December 2024 and in Sweden on 18 December 2024, and it began airing in Italy on Rai 1 on 13 January 2025. It also had a world premiere of its first two episodes at the Canneseries festival in France on 29 April 2025, and it arrived in the United Kingdom on 25 August 2025.
In the United States, the series was acquired by PBS for its Masterpiece anthology. All eight episodes became available early to PBS Passport members and through the PBS Masterpiece channel on Prime Video on 1 March 2026. The weekly broadcast then began on Sunday, 22 March 2026, at 10 p.m. Eastern time, and the finale, titled “The Last Two,” aired on 10 May 2026.
Episode Highlights
The first episode, titled “The Letter,” covers Edmond’s return home, his plans to marry Mercedes, and the betrayal that sends him to prison. The second, “The Castle,” focuses on life inside the Château d’If. The story then moves through his escape, the discovery of the treasure, and his return to Paris as the Count. In the later episodes, Edmond’s plans begin to affect the next generation, and one of the final conflicts involves a duel challenge from Albert, the son of Fernand and Mercedes. The last episode asks whether Edmond is still the same man after years of deception and whether a future with Mercedes is even possible.
How to Watch The Count of Monte Cristo (2024)
Availability depends on where you live. In the United States, the series streams through the PBS app and PBS.org, and through PBS Passport, which is a benefit for members who support their local station. It has also been offered through the PBS Masterpiece channel on Prime Video. Some free streaming windows on PBS platforms are time limited, so an episode that is free today may later require Passport. In Europe, the series was shown by public broadcasters such as Rai 1 in Italy and France Télévisions in France, and in other regions it depends on local distribution through Mediawan Rights. Because streaming rights change often, the safest step is to check your local listings or a current streaming guide before you plan a viewing.
How Does It Compare With the Novel and Other Adaptations?
Dumas’s novel is long and full of side stories, so every adaptation has to decide what to keep. Films tend to squeeze the plot into two or three hours, which often means cutting much of the Paris society plot and the slow build of the Count’s plan. With eight episodes, this series has space to include more of those threads, and critics have noted that it explores how vengeance can wear down a person’s heart instead of treating it as a simple thrill.
The story has been adapted many times, with at least twenty-nine films and several television series based on it, so newcomers may wonder which version to choose. This one is a good fit for viewers who like slow, character-driven period drama and who want a version in English with an international cast. Anyone who wants an exact copy of every scene from the book should remember that, as with any adaptation, some characters and events are changed or shortened.
Themes That Make the Story Last
Betrayal, patience, justice, and forgiveness run through the whole series. Edmond starts as a trusting young man and becomes a calculating figure who uses wealth, knowledge, and disguise as weapons. Abbé Faria’s warning that anyone planning revenge should dig their own grave first captures the central question: what does a person lose while trying to make others pay? The relationship between Edmond and Mercedes adds a quieter layer, because it shows how the years of separation changed both of them.
Is It Worth Watching?
For viewers who enjoy long-form historical drama, the answer is likely yes. The series offers strong acting, a large scale, and a story that has held audiences for almost two centuries. Reviewers have generally praised its emotional depth and its willingness to stay with the darker side of revenge, though as with any long adaptation, some viewers may find the pace slower than a film.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2024 Count of Monte Cristo a movie or a TV series?
It is a miniseries with eight episodes of about 52 minutes each.
Who plays the Count of Monte Cristo?
Sam Claflin plays Edmond Dantès, who later takes the name of the Count.
Who plays Abbé Faria?
Jeremy Irons plays the role.
Is the series in English?
Yes, it was filmed in English even though it is a France and Italy co-production.
Is there a season 2?
The series was made as a single, self-contained eight-episode story based on one novel, so it works as a complete miniseries.
Disclaimer
This article is written for general information and entertainment purposes only. Release dates, streaming platforms, and availability can change by region and over time, so please confirm current details with official broadcasters and streaming services before making viewing plans. Cast and production details reflect information publicly available at the time of writing, and this article is not affiliated with the producers, broadcasters, or distributors of the series.
I’m Muhammad Ubaid, founder of YBR Magazine. I research and write detailed guides on America’s National Parks — covering entry fees, permits, best times to visit, and planning tips — using official NPS sources and up-to-date information.
