The 'Renegade Nell' Trailer Promises an Adventure Teeming with Danger & Magic

There are a lot of reasons to be curious about the upcoming Disney+ series Renegade Nell. After all, the drama hails from noted creator Sally Wainwright, known for series as diverse as period drama Gentleman Jack, crime series Happy Valley, and late-in-life romance Last Tango in Halifax. It stars both Louisa Harland and Nick Mohammed, fresh from their respective turns in fan-favorite comedies Derry Girls and Ted Lasso. But what's most interesting about the show is its premise --- a period drama that's actually a rollicking magical adventure about friendship, destiny, and fighting for what's right. 

For whatever reason, our current entertainment landscape is severely lacking when it comes to the adventure-type series many of us watched in our youth. In recent years only the David Tennant-starring Around the World in 80 Days feels similar to the sort of Saturday night Wonderful World of Disney vibe that we remember. But Renegade Nell seems as though it's the closest thing to that hopeful good time we've seen in a while, a series that's clearly targeted at a younger audience than many shows of its ilk (The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, Our Flag Means Death) but whose sly self-awareness and strident feminism is obviously meant for the adults watching along with them. 

I think they used to call this sort of thing fun for the whole family? 

The series follows the story of Nell Jackson, a quick-witted and courageous young woman who becomes the most notorious highwayman (highwaywoman?) in 18th century England after she is framed for murder. But when she meets a magical spirit called Billy Blind, Nell realizes her destiny may be bigger than she ever could have imagined.

Alongside Harland and Mohammed, the ensemble cast features Frank Dillane (The Essex Serpent) as Nell’s fickle friend and sometimes adversary Charles Devereux; Adrian Lester (Trigger Point) as the Earl of Poynton; Alice Kremelber (The Sinner) as Sofia Wilmont; Joely Richardson (The Sandman) as eccentric newspaper magnate Lady Eularia Moggerhanger; Pip Torrens (Poldark) as Sofia’s father, Lord Blancheford; Ényì Okoronkwo (The Lazarus Project) as stable boy Rasselas, and Craig Parkinson (Line of Duty) as Nell’s kindhearted father, Sam. Newcomers Bo Bragason (The Radleys) and Florence Keen (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society) play Nell's two younger sisters, Roxy and George.

The series is created and written by Wainwright, with Georgia Christou (On the Edge) and Emme Hoy (Totally Completely Fine) also penning episodes. The show is directed by Ben Taylor (Sex Education), with Amanda Brotchie (Gentleman Jack) and MJ Delaney (Ted Lasso) also helming episodes. Executive Producers are Wainwright, Taylor, Faith Penhale, Will Johnston, and Louise Mutter for Lookout Point, and Johanna Devereaux for Disney+; Jon Jennings is series producer, and Stella Merz is producer. 

Renegade Nell will premiere all episodes on March 29, 2024, exclusively on Disney+.