Plot Synopsis

Narrated and executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith, AFRICAN QUEENS: CLEOPATRA is the second series in the AFRICAN QUEENS franchise, which explores the lives of prominent and iconic African Queens. This four-episode series features Ptolemaic Egyptian Pharaoh Cleopatra VII, the world's most famous, powerful, and misunderstood woman -- a daring queen whose beauty and romances came to overshadow her real asset: her intellect. Cleopatra's heritage has been the subject of much academic debate, which has often been ignored by Hollywood.

Smith says, "we don't often get to see or hear stories about Black queens, and that was really important for me, as well as for my daughter, and just for my community to be able to know those stories because there are tons of them! Cleopatra is a queen who many know about, but not in her truth. She's been displayed as overtly sexual, excessive, and corrupt, yet she was a strategist, an intellect, a commanding force of nature, who fought to protect her kingdom... and her heritage is highly debated. This season will dive deeper into her history and re-assesses this fascinating part of her story."

All four episodes of AFRICAN QUEENS: CLEOPATRA dropped on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 on Netflix.