
The Count of Monte Cristo 2025: Where to Watch, Cast & Episodes
Alexandre Dumas’s revenge saga has been told on screen dozens of times, but the 2024 adaptation starring Sam Claflin gives the story a fresh urgency. Bille August directs this eight-episode English-language miniseries, following Edmond Dantès from wrongful imprisonment to calculated reckoning.
Stars: Sam Claflin, Jeremy Irons · Network: PBS Masterpiece · Air Time: Sundays at 10/9c · Based On: Alexandre Dumas novel
Quick snapshot
- Eight episodes total (TV Insider)
- US premiere on PBS Masterpiece from March 22, 2026 (Wikipedia)
- Sam Claflin plays Edmond Dantès (Rotten Tomatoes)
- Netflix US availability after PBS broadcast
- Exact per-episode air dates on PBS Masterpiece
- Whether France Televisions aired in 2025 (scheduled but unconfirmed)
- World premiere: October 19, 2024 (Rome Film Festival)
- Switzerland RTS 1 premiere: December 15, 2024
- Italy Rai 1: January 13, 2025
- PBS viewers: weekly Sundays at 10/9c through spring 2026
- Edmond now out of Château d’If — revenge arc accelerating
The key facts below establish the miniseries’ basic parameters and broadcasting details.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director | Bille August |
| Lead Actor | Sam Claflin |
| Network | PBS Masterpiece |
| Year | 2025 US air (2024 original) |
| Format | TV Mini Series |
| Episodes | 8 |
Where can I watch the new Count of Monte Cristo 2025?
For US viewers, PBS Masterpiece is the primary destination. The series started airing on Sundays at 10/9c from March 22, 2026, giving American audiences a weekly rhythm to follow Edmond Dantès’s arc from prisoner to avenger.
PBS Masterpiece options
PBS Masterpiece serves as the official US broadcaster, screening episodes weekly on the main PBS channel. Viewers can access the series through their local PBS station, the PBS app, or the Masterpiece website. The broadcast schedule places the show in prime time, making it accessible to subscribers without additional streaming fees.
If you have a PBS affiliation in your TV package, you’re already set — no extra subscription required. For cord-cutters, the PBS app offers same-night streaming after the broadcast.
International streaming alternatives
Outside the US, the series landed on different platforms depending on region. Sweden released the miniseries on SVT Play on December 18, 2024, while UK audiences got access through the streaming service U beginning August 2, 2025. Switzerland’s RTS 1 aired the first two episodes back-to-back on December 15, 2024, as a launch event.
TV broadcast details
The international rollout followed a staggered schedule. Italy’s Rai 1 broadcast the series starting January 13, 2025. Spain’s La 2 carried it from August 5 through August 19, 2025, airing episodes across three weeks. This selective international rollout means viewing options vary significantly by geography.
How many episodes are in The Count of Monte Cristo 2025?
The miniseries runs eight episodes total, each covering a portion of Dumas’s sprawling revenge narrative. This episode count aligns with the TV mini-series format, allowing time to develop Edmond’s imprisonment, escape, and initial schemes without the compression that plagues feature-film adaptations.
Episode breakdown
Each episode follows a distinct narrative arc within the larger story. The series is structured so that Edmond Dantès spends a significant portion of the run imprisoned in Château d’If before his escape frees him to pursue justice against those who wronged him. By mid-season, Edmond has emerged from prison, setting up the revenge plot that drives the back half.
Eight episodes gives the adaptation room to breathe. Dumas’s novel spans years of plotting; a shorter run would have forced awkward cuts. The pacing at PBS reflects this — roughly one novel section per episode without feeling rushed.
Runtime info
Exact per-episode runtimes haven’t been widely published as of the US premiere date, but miniseries formats typically run 45 to 60 minutes per episode. Viewers should expect standard drama-length installments rather than limited series with variable episode lengths.
What is The Count of Monte Cristo on Netflix?
As of mid-2026, the series has not appeared on Netflix in the US market. PBS Masterpiece holds US broadcast rights, and the show is running its linear broadcast window before any streaming window would theoretically open.
Netflix availability
International Netflix libraries sometimes carry different content than US Netflix, but no confirmed deals have been announced for this adaptation on the platform. The series originated with European co-production partners, leaving open the possibility of regional Netflix deals in France, Italy, or other territories — but US Netflix remains unconfirmed.
Alternative streaming options
For US viewers who miss the Sunday broadcast, the PBS app provides same-night streaming access. There’s no word yet on whether the series will eventually land on PBS’s own streaming platform or partner services like Amazon Prime Video, where other Masterpiece content sometimes migrates after broadcast.
Is The Count of Monte Cristo on TV yet?
Yes, for US audiences the series began airing on March 22, 2026, on PBS Masterpiece. The show runs Sundays at 10/9c, positioning it in PBS’s prime drama slot typically reserved for their strongest literary adaptations.
Current air status
The series was already halfway through its season as of mid-2026, with Edmond having escaped Château d’If and beginning his campaign of calculated revenge. This places the US broadcast mid-run, meaning new viewers may need to catch up via the PBS app to reach the current episode before the finale airs.
Premiere schedule
The official US premiere date of March 22, 2026, marks nearly 18 months after the world premiere at the Rome Film Festival in October 2024. The extended timeline reflects the international co-production’s rollout across multiple territories before crossing the Atlantic to American PBS audiences.
Where can I watch the Count of Monte Cristo 2025 trailer?
Official trailer content is available through PBS’s digital channels and through IMDb, which hosts promotional material for the series. These trailers showcase Sam Claflin’s transformation into the Count, along with glimpses of Jeremy Irons as Abbé Faria and the dramatic island fortress setting of Château d’If.
Official trailer sources
PBS and Masterpiece’s websites and social channels serve as the primary sources for official trailer material. The trailer typically circulates in the weeks leading up to premiere, though availability varies by platform. IMDb maintains a dedicated page for the series that aggregates available promotional clips.
Cast highlights
Sam Claflin leads the production as Edmond Dantès, taking the character from falsely accused sailor to methodical avenger across the eight-episode run. Jeremy Irons plays Abbé Faria, the imprisoned priest who guides Edmond during his captivity and shapes his worldview. Supporting cast includes Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Gérard de Villefort and Ana Girardot as Mercédès.
Claflin’s performance centers on physical and vocal transformation. Early episodes show Edmond’s youthful naivety; by mid-season, the Count’s measured, cold delivery signals how thoroughly prison reshaped him. Irons provides counterweight as the philosophical Faria whose wisdom becomes Edmond’s toolkit.
Timeline
The timeline below traces the miniseries’ journey from festival premiere to US broadcast.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1844 | Alexandre Dumas novel published |
| 2024-10-19 | World premiere at 19th Rome Film Festival |
| 2024-12-15 | Switzerland premiere on RTS 1 (episodes 1–2) |
| 2024-12-18 | Sweden online release on SVT Play |
| 2025-01-13 | Italy broadcast on Rai 1 |
| 2025-08-05 | Spain broadcast on La 2 begins |
| 2026-03-22 | US PBS Masterpiece premiere |
Confirmed vs. Unclear
Confirmed
- PBS Masterpiece airing on Sundays at 10/9c
- Stars Sam Claflin and Jeremy Irons
- Eight-episode miniseries format
- Bille August as director
- March 22, 2026 US premiere date
Still unclear
- Netflix US availability post-premiere
- Exact episode-by-episode air dates on PBS
- Whether France Televisions actually aired in 2025
What people are saying
“PBS Masterpiece brought Bille August’s adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo to American viewers in 2026.”
— TV Insider entertainment coverage (Industry trade publication)
“It’s about halfway through the season, as of the time of publication, with Edmond now out of prison and slowly but surely exacting his revenge.”
— TV Insider season mid-point review (Season mid-point coverage)
The international rollout has been methodical, but the wait for US audiences ended in March 2026. For viewers who’ve followed Dumas’s classic or who discovered the story through other adaptations, the PBS version offers a faithful, well-cast retelling that doesn’t rush the central revenge arc. Edmond Dantès spends enough time in Château d’If that his transformation into the Count feels earned rather than convenient.
For PBS subscribers, the choice is straightforward: tune in Sundays at 10/9c or stream through the PBS app the same evening. For viewers without PBS access, exploring digital antenna options or the PBS app’s free tier may be worth the effort for a miniseries this complete. The adaptation rewards patience — and that’s by design.
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Sam Claflin’s gripping take on Edmond Dantès unfolds over eight episodes on PBS Masterpiece, with the detailed episode guide providing extra trailer and streaming details.
Frequently asked questions
Who directed The Count of Monte Cristo 2025?
Danish director Bille August helmed the miniseries. August has directed numerous literary adaptations and international co-productions, bringing experience with period drama to the project.
What is the premise of The Count of Monte Cristo?
Young sailor Edmond Dantès is falsely imprisoned in Château d’If without trial. After 15 years, he escapes, discovers a hidden fortune, and returns as the Count of Monte Cristo to systematically expose and destroy the men who framed him.
When did The Count of Monte Cristo book come out?
Alexandre Dumas published the novel in 1844, writing it in serial form before releasing it as a complete work. It’s one of the most translated and adapted novels in Western literature.
Is there a 2024 version of The Count of Monte Cristo?
Yes, the miniseries premiered internationally in late 2024, with the US broadcast beginning March 22, 2026, on PBS Masterpiece. The production is an English-language adaptation featuring European co-production partners.
How long is each episode of The Count of Monte Cristo 2025?
Exact runtimes have not been widely published, but miniseries episodes typically run 45 to 60 minutes. The eight-episode format allows each installment to cover substantial narrative ground from the novel.
What other adaptations exist for The Count of Monte Cristo?
Notable adaptations include the 2002 film starring Jim Caviezel, the 1998 French miniseries, and the 1934 film. The story has been adapted dozens of times across film, television, and stage worldwide.
Why is the book historically banned?
Dumas’s novel has faced bans at various points due to its themes of revenge, criticism of class structures, and depictions of corruption. Like many classic works, it has appeared on banned books lists periodically, though it remains widely read and taught today.