When a young girl is kidnapped and taken hostage for four years, she battles assassins, betrayers, the Plague and a cursed prediction. She finally escapes and step sinto a surprising destiny, becoming the only foreign Queen Catherine de Medici of France.
In 1527 Italy, a young girl loses everything when she is kidnapped and taken hostage for four years. Living in brutal convent prisons, surrounded by enemies, she battles to survive assassins, betrayers, the Plague and a cursed prediction. She finally escapes captivity only to find herself still a pawn in the political intrigue of the world stage. She has to use her ingenuity and talent to finally step into a surprising destiny, becoming the first and only Italian, non-royal Queen Catherine de Medici of France. Queen Catherine de Medici of France has been held responsible for the most atrocious events of 16th Century Europe. Who was this brilliant, peace-seeking leader and what moulded and shaped this inventive orphan into becoming one of the most renowned and hated women of all time? The Other Medici explores Catherine’s formative years which have been cloaked in mystery. We are adapting this extraordinary story of her childhood from the novel “The Devil’s Queen” by Jeanne Kalogridis. Similar to THE CROWN and THE GREAT, we fill in the gaps between historical facts with Catherine’s dramatic turning points and revelations. With no allies to support her, this spirited young dancer leans into the occult, astrology, music, and the hidden Jewish Mystical Arts with Cosimo Ruggieri and eventually Nostradamus himself. Along the way, with enemies at every turn, she invents the high heel shoe to lift herself and command respect, she also invents modern perfume to attract the attention of her distracted husband, avoiding banishment for being barren. And she founds Western Ballet. All leading to the moment she defies her curse, steps into her destiny, and becomes Queen of France.
Nikila (Nikki) Cole is an award-winning dual Canadian/American writer/producer/director with over 25 years of international experience. Her feature documentary RAY OF HOPE received a PGA Producer Mark, was In Consideration for the Academy Awards, shortlisted in five Canadian Screen Award categories, and streams on CBC Gem. Her dramatic short CATHERINE IN LOVE won the Golden Elephant Trophy at the Bangkok Movie Awards, shot on a Volume Wall as part of the DGC/Pixomondo/William F. White Virtual Production Workshop. MY FATHER, JOE won five international awards and is on Amazon Prime. THE BRIDE'S WEDDING won Best Feature Screenplay at the Jogja International Film Festival; SERPENT QUEEN won Best TV Pilot Screenplay at Oaxaca. Winner, C21 Content Canada International Co-Production Pitch Competition, TIFF 2025 (BLEEP ME!). Named Producer to Watch, MIPTV Cannes 2022 & 2023. Gemini Award winner. Selected for RDV Canada/Telefilm 'Meet the Series' Cohort (Series Mania/MIP 2021), leading to CMF/CICLIC co-development funding with French producer Virginie Lacombe. Austin Film Festival Second Rounder (THE OTHER MEDICI).
After showrunning 15+ factual series including ICE ROAD TRUCKERS and STORAGE WARS for History Channel, Netflix, CBC, BBC Kids and HGTV, she now develops scripted features including OPHELIA, a four-territory international co-production with scientific consultant Dr. Emilio Emini (former Merck Research Laboratories) and institutional support from the Mark Wainberg Centre for Viral Diseases, McGill University. Through her charity Tonembee Foundation (tonembee.com), she has spent 20 years educating girls and boys and introducing solar energy to a remote Kenyan village. Member: DGC, CMPA AI Committee, Alliance of Women Directors, Film Fatales, WIFT LA & Toronto. Dual Canadian/American citizen.
Producer - Ray Sager
Executive Producer - John Weber
