The Gray House (TV series)
| The Gray House | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Written by | Darrell Fetty John Sayles Leslie Greif |
| Directed by | Roland Joffé |
| Starring |
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| Composers | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Jan Moeskops |
| Editors |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Prime Video |
| Release | February 26, 2026 |
The Gray House is an American historical drama television miniseries. Executive produced by Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman, the ensemble cast is led by Mary-Louise Parker, Amethyst Davis, Daisy Head and Ben Vereen.
The series began streaming all 8 episodes on February 26, 2026 on Prime Video.[2]
Premise
Based on a true story, the series is about a Union-aligned woman-led network of spies led by Elizabeth Van Lew in Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War.[3][4][5]
Cast
In order of credits:
- Mary-Louise Parker as Eliza Van Lew/Baker[4]
- Daisy Head as Elizabeth Van Lew
- Paul Anderson as Stokely Reeves
- Amethyst Davis as Mary Jane Richards
- Ian Duff as Jericho Bowser
- Hannah James as Clara Parish
- Robert Knepper as Bully Lumpkin
- Christopher McDonald as Thomas McNiven
- Colin Morgan as Hamton Arsenault
- Rob Morrow as Judah Benjamin
- Colin O'Donoghue as Captain William Lounsbury
- Sam Trammell as Jefferson Davis
- Keith David as Henry H. Garnet
- Ben Vereen as Isham Worthy
- Ewan Miller as John Van Lew Jr.
- Catherine Hannay as Laurette Van Lew
- Oli Green as Paul Joseph Revere
- Joshua McGuire as Erasmus Ross
- Ben Cura as Timothy Webster
- Michael Woods as Deputy Pike
- Ella Schrey-Yeats as Katey
- Blake Patrick Anderson as Obie Wise
- Darrell Fetty as Duncan Broadnaxe
- Charles Craddock as John Wilkes Booth
- Catherine Carton as Talulah
- John Ojeyemi as Mose Robinson
- Geoffrey MacCarthy as Robert Ford
- Thom Beers as John Winder
- Bogdan Farcaș as John Caphart
- Mark Perry as Henry Wise
- Ionuț Grama as Sherrard Clemens
- Laura Morgan as Varina Davis
- Elizabeth J Cron as Charmaine Hobbs
- Lindsay Forster as Mabel
- Nia Samara as Sookie
- Olivia Nita as Amanda Suggs
- Aryel Tsoto as Tadpole
- Leslie Greif as Doctor Graves
- Bu Kunene as Eula Sewell
- Zaquis Riddick as Peter Roane
- Oxana Morvec as Fredrika Bremer
- Voicu Aanitei as Lucious Diggs
- Cheherezade Valentine Okotaka Ebale as Caroline
- Ania Ivcovici as Annie Van Lew
- Ana Antonescu as Eliza Louise Van Lew
- Marc Jenner as Ulysses S. Grant
- Haris Salihovic as Chase Morton
- Eduardo Makiadi as Homer Simpson (Episode 1)
- Voicu Aaniței as Lucious Diggs (Episode 2-3)
- Doru Cǎtǎnnescu as Telegraph Clerk (Episode 2)
- Dan Rǎdulescu as Delegate (Episode 2)
- Jason Lamar Ricketts as Jeremiah (Episode 3)
- Luca Vasile as Jasper Suggs (Episode 3-4)
- Cālin Stanciu Jr. as Argus Plunkett (Episode 3)
- Daniel Himschoot as Cade (Episode 3)
- Ionut Cotrutǎ as Cade's Friend (Episode 3)
- Tudor Pǎstrǎşcoiu as Elijah (President's Guard) (Episode 3)
- Cosmin Dominte as George McClellan (Episode 4)
- Eduart Trifa as Burton Harrison (Episode 4)
- Lucian Iftime as Dick Turner (Episode 4)
- Sandra James-Young as Lavinia (Episode 5)
- Marsha Millar as Old Sadie (Episode 5)
- Ștefan Iancu as Virgil Hawk (Episode 5)
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by [2] | Written by [6] | Original release date [2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Nothin' Like the Fourth of July" | Roland Joffé | Leslie Greif & Darrell Fetty and John Sayles | February 26, 2026 |
| 2 | "Never Secede" | Roland Joffé | Leslie Greif & Darrell Fetty and John Sayles | February 26, 2026 |
| 3 | "First Blood" | Roland Joffé | Leslie Greif & Darrell Fetty and John Sayles | February 26, 2026 |
| 4 | "Spy Ring" | Roland Joffé | Leslie Greif & Darrell Fetty and John Sayles | February 26, 2026 |
| 5 | "Treasons Ends on the Gallows" | Roland Joffé | Leslie Greif & Darrell Fetty and John Sayles | February 26, 2026 |
| 6 | "Alien Enemies" | Roland Joffé | Leslie Greif & Darrell Fetty and John Sayles | February 26, 2026 |
| 7 | "Babcock" | Roland Joffé | Leslie Greif & Darrell Fetty and John Sayles | February 26, 2026 |
| 8 | "The Firestorm" | Roland Joffé | Leslie Greif & Darrell Fetty and John Sayles | February 26, 2026 |
Production
The eight-part limited series has Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary as producers through Revelations Entertainment alongside Kevin Costner via Territory Pictures and Big Dreams Entertainment from Republic Pictures. The project was first reported in September 2022.[7] Rod Lake, Howard Kaplan and Leslie Greif are also executive producers.[8] Directed by Roland Joffé, filming took place in Romania from April through September 2023 with a cast including Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Vereen, Paul Anderson, Amethyst Davis, Daisy Head and Robert Knepper.[9]
The soundtrack for the series includes an original song performed by Willie Nelson, which closes the series as well as songs by Scott Stapp, Shania Twain, Killer Mike and Yolanda Adams and a Jon Bon Jovi co-written song performed by Adrienne Warren.[10][11][12]
Release
The series was shown at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 14, 2024.[13] In September 2025, Amazon Prime Video acquired U.S. rights to the series, planning to release it sometime in early 2026.[14] All episodes of the series were released on February 26, 2026.[2]
Reception
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 43% approval rating based on 7 critic reviews.[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave a score of 50 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[16]
Maggie Lovitt for Collider gave it a 7/10, overall liking it. Lovitt did not care for the violence particularly towards Black people and women, finding it gratuitous, and did not like the historical embellishments, but complimented the general adherence to the spirit of the subject matter, the ensemble cast, particularly Paul Anderson's Stokely Reeves as the main villain.[17]
Aramide Tinubu for Variety had a critical review stating, "Though sprawling and highly detailed, The Gray House becomes so clunky and overrun with extraneous characters and narratives that the women at its center nearly get lost in the chaos."[18]
References
- ^ Bruce Broughton Interview | Oscar-Nominated and Emmy-Winning Composer. Ernesto Aguirre. May 27, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d "Breaking News - First Look - "The Gray House" Limited Series Starring Mary-Louise Parker and Ben Vereen, Executive Produced by Morgan Freeman | TheFutonCritic.com". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse; Goldbart, Max; Clarke, Stewart (April 18, 2024). "Kevin Costner's 'The Gray House' To Open Monte-Carlo TV Fest; BBC Buys Viaplay Dramas; Sony Among NATPE Budapest Screenings; BBC World Service Director Exit — Global Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "Is "The Gray House" Based on a True Story? The Real History Behind the Prime Video Series". Country Living. February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Banik, Sinthya (February 26, 2026). "The Gray House cast: Every character featured in the historical drama and the actors behind them". primetimer.com. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ ""The Gray House"". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 28, 2022). "Kevin Costner & Morgan Freeman Team To Produce Civil War Spy Series 'The Gray House' For Paramount". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Earl, William (April 18, 2024). "'The Gray House' Civil War Spy Drama Series From Kevin Costner to Open Monte-Carlo Television Festival". Variety. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ "Miniseries The Gray House Directed by Roland Joffe and Produced by Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman Shoots in Romania". Film New Europe. June 14, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Stewart (September 12, 2024). "Musical Stars Align For Civil War Drama 'The Gray House' With Willie Nelson, Shania Twain, Yolanda Adams, Lainey Wilson, Killer Mike & More On The Soundtrack". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Stewart (September 12, 2024). "Musical Stars Align For Civil War Drama 'The Gray House' With Willie Nelson, Shania Twain, Yolanda Adams, Lainey Wilson, Killer Mike & More On The Soundtrack". Deadline. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Bryant, Manly (September 12, 2024). "Willie Nelson, Lainey Wilson, And Shania Twain To Sing On New Civil War Drama". Country Rebel - Unapologetically Country. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "Monte-Carlo TV Fest to Open with 'The Gray House'". Videoageinternational. April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Stewart (September 30, 2025). "Prime Video Takes Kevin Costner & Morgan Freeman-Produced Civil War Drama 'The Gray House' For The U.S." Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
- ^ "The Gray House: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ "The Gray House: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Lovitt, Maggie (February 24, 2026). "'The Gray House' Review: Kevin Costner's Gripping 8-Part Prime Video Miniseries Is a Must-See War Drama". Collider. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Tinubu, Aramide (February 26, 2026). "Prime Video's 'The Gray House' Is a Frustrating Depiction of Espionage During the Civil War: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
