Maria Theresa tells the story of the Habsburg Empire’s only female ruler

Walter Presents has acquired the rights to Austrian drama Maria Theresa for its service in the UK, New Zealand and North America.

The foreign-language drama streamer has picked up the series from German distributor Beta Film.

Directed by Emmy winner Robert Dornhelm (Anne Frank, War & Peace, Vienna Blood), the 4×120’ series has also been sold to Italian pubcaster Rai, Franco-German cultural broadcvaster Arte, Russia’s OKKO.Tv, Red Media and Kultura, and to RTP in Portugal.

It was originally commissioned and aired by the public broadcasters in Austria (ORF), Czech Republic (Czech TV), Slovakia (RTVS) and Hungary (MTVA) and a new two-hour episode is already in production.

The plot tells the story of the only female ruler of the Habsburg Empire, in the 18th century. After her father’s death, the empress has to deal with those who question her abilities to rule. Facing increasing pressure from all sides, including her own family, she has no choice but to address head-on the issues of the state and those of her marriage.

Maria Theresa is produced by Maya Production in association with MR Film and Beta Film.