Michael Douglas transforms into iconic US founding father in first look at ‘Franklin’

Apple TV+ has dropped its first official trailer of Franklin – the Michael Douglas-led bioseries tracking a key moment in the life of Benjamin Franklin.

One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Franklin details a secret mission Franklin went on for the sake of the United States.

The eight-part limited series is based on Stacy Schiff’s book, A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America and explores “the thrilling story of the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin’s career”.

The synopsis reads: “In December 1776, Franklin is world famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when – as the fate of American independence hangs in the balance – he embarks on a secret mission to France.

“At age 70, without any diplomatic training, Franklin convinced an absolute monarchy to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy.”

“By virtue of his fame, charisma and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies, French informers and hostile colleagues to engineer the Franco-American alliance of 1778 and the peace treaty with Great Britain in 1783,” the synopsis continues.

“The eight-year French mission stands as Franklin’s most vital service to his country. Diplomats and historians still regard it as the greatest single tour of duty by an ambassador in our nation’s history, as without French aid, America could not have won the Revolution.”