Monarch is a drama series set to premiere on Fox in 2022 that will star the likes of Trace Adkins, Susan Sarandon, Beth Ditto and Anna Friel, among others. The cast has a blend of new and experienced actors, all of whom have been featured in prior works to Monarch.

The drama will be about the Roman family across multiple generations and centered around a country music dynasty. Although such a niche premise is different from what the cast have starred in earlier, a look back at their previous movies and shows attests to their talents and why they should do a good job in Monarch.

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Trace Adkins: I Can Only Imagine (2018)

There have been many singing stars who’ve transitioned into acting, but Trace Adkins has been involved with both for quite some time. Adkins is expected to headline Monarch, which will be a new route since he generally appears in supporting roles. I Can Only Imagine is among the movie where Adkins is prominently placed.

It’s a faith-based story about a young singer who writes a song about the relationships he has with his father; Adkins plays the music producer of the main character. The movie was a sleeper hit that’s worth checking out for those who like content with spirituality and are fans of Trace Adkins.

Eva Amurri: Middle Of Nowhere (2008)

Eva Amurri has played the younger version of her mother Susan Sarandon’s characters many times, although Middle of Nowhere is a movie built around a mother-daughter relationship. The story is about Amurri’s character as she looks to find a way to earn a living after her irresponsible mother damages her credit rating.

Monarch will again see Amurri appear as a younger counterpart to Surandon’s Dottie Contrall Roman, so it’s worth checking out how the two actresses act in tandem. Middle of Nowhere is a coming-of-age drama that also stars Anton Yelchin when he was a promising up-and-coming actor.

Meagan Holder: Born Again Virgin (2015-16)

This comedy-drama plays right into what its title implies, with the main character taking a vow of celibacy of after she’s been unlucky in love numerous times. Danielle Nicolet plays the lead, while Meagan Holder appears as the best friend who helps her find the right one.

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Monarch is a drama based around country music, so Holder will be seen in quite a contrasting role compared to Born Again Virgin, making the series a good option to check out and experience the diversity the actress can present in her performances.

Beth Ditto: On Becoming A God In Central Florida (2019)

Starring Kirsten Dunst in the primary role, On Becoming a God in Central Florida is a dark comedy that has the lead character join a multi-billion conglomerate to rise up its ranks just so she can blow the whistle on the company for their part in ruining her life.

Beth Ditto is part of the supporting cast who comes into contact with Dunst’s character and sees her plans come into fruition without realizing it. Ditto will be in for quite the move from this show’s cable setting to Monarch’s network-based series and viewers will find it a different experience to see her in both mediums.

Anna Friel: Pushing Daisies (2007-09)

Among the binge-worthy shows that lasted less than three seasons, Pushing Daisies is a unique idea that centers around Ned (Lee Pace) who can bring people back from the dead with his touch but who will die if he touches them again. Things get complicated when he revives his childhood crush Chuck (Anna Friel) and falls in love with her.

The series’ most appealing aspect is the cinematography, as bright colors are used in everything from set design to the way the characters dress. It’s a comedy-drama that put Anna Friel on the map for bigger audiences and continues to be considered among her best works.

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Iñigo Pascual: Crazy Beautiful You (2015)

One of the highest-grossing Filipino films to be made, Crazy Beautiful You is a romantic comedy-drama centering around a teen couple. It’s a fairly straightforward story where the wild child female character falls in love with the straight-laced male love interest.

Iñigo Pascual’s character brings in the conflict as the brother of the male protagonist who is also in love with the same girl and the three fall into a love triangle. Crazy Beautiful You isn’t a groundbreaking movie, but it’s a good watch for those who want to check out Iñigo Pascual prior to seeing him in Monarch.

Joshua Sasse: Galavant (2015-16)

Joshua Sasse is the lead in this musical comedy fantasy series that is set in medieval times and carries a campy atmosphere. Galavant sees the knight Sir Gary Galavant fall hopelessly in love and go on quests to prove his mettle as a dashing man of his times.

Episodes are largely satirical in nature and feature songs that make use of the comedic theme. It’s one of the more creative shows to watch out for and it’s too bad the series didn’t last longer than two seasons. Monarch fans will get a kick out watching Sasse have a lot of fun in Galavant while also witnessing his singing talent.

Emma Milani: Dying To Be A Cheerleader (2020)

Emma Milani is an up-and-coming actress so her filmography is relatively bare at the time, with Monarch to be her most high-profile role to date. As such, her earlier roles are generally of the supporting variety and she can be seen in the dark thriller Dying to be a Cheerleader.

Milani doesn’t feature prominently and is among the characters who witness the two leads take their obsession with cheerleading to dangerous lengths as deadly consequences come into play. It’s a movie good for silly fun and Milani’s earlier acting efforts can be appreciated.

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Martha Higareda: Altered Carbon (2018-20)

Fans of the series will argue that Altered Carbon deserves to be considered among the best recent sci-fi shows to watch and a case can certainly be made. The series is set in the future where people can transfer their conscience into different bodies, with the protagonist’s reawakening centuries after his supposed demise.

Martha Higareda plays the main character’s love interest, who was originally romantically involved with the person whose body the hero is currently inhabiting. Altered Carbon’s narrative can get pretty confusing, but the relatively small amount of episodes can allow for a binge-watch to see it all in one go.

Susan Sarandon: Thelma & Louise (1991)

Susan Sarandon is easily the biggest name to appear in Monarch, with the actress having a large variety of credits that includes an Oscar win for Dead Man Walking. However, it’s Thelma & Louis that has made the biggest impact in her career and the performance she continues to be associated with.

The movie is about the titular pair of best friends who go on a road trip and encounter one unfortunate incident after another. It’s a blend of comedy and coming-of-age drama that also carries some feel-good vibes as well as crime elements. Sarandon gives a committed performance that is well worth watching before she appears in Monarch.

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About The Author


Saim Cheeda
(1347 Articles Published)

Saim Cheeda is an entertainment writer covering all of Film, TV, Gaming and Books. He’s been a writer for Valnet since 2017, contributing 500+ articles for The Gamer, The Things, Game Rant, Comic Book Resources and Screen Rant. Apart from freelance writing, Saim is a lifestyle blogger, co-owning the blog 3 States Apart.

http://3statesapart.com

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