Emilia Clarke Joins Peacock Thriller Series “Ponies”

After years of captivating audiences as Daenerys Targaryen on HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke has secured her next major television role. On Monday, Peacock officially announced that Clarke will star in and executive produce Ponies, a new live-action espionage thriller that has received a straight-to-series order. This new role adds to Clarke’s evolving television portfolio, which already includes her upcoming portrayal of Mallory in Prime Video’s adaptation of the Criminal series from Image Comics.

The development of Ponies is led by Susanna Fogel, known for her work on The Flight Attendant and The Spy Who Dumped Me, alongside David Iserson, who has contributed to Mr. Robot and New Girl. Fogel will not only serve as executive producer but will also direct and co-write the series. Iserson will share writing duties and act as the showrunner.

Ponies transports viewers to Moscow in 1977. The story revolves around two “PONIES” (Persons of No Interest in intelligence jargon) working anonymously as secretaries in the American Embassy. Their ordinary lives take a dramatic turn when their husbands are mysteriously killed in the USSR. The two women, Bea and Twila, then transform into CIA operatives. Clarke’s character, Bea, is a highly educated Russian-speaking daughter of Soviet immigrants, while her counterpart Twila is a small-town girl known for her fearlessness and abrasiveness. Together, they dive deep into a sprawling Cold War conspiracy to uncover the truth behind their spouses’ deaths.

The series boasts a lineup of experienced executive producers, including Jessica Rhoades, who has worked on Black Mirror, Station Eleven, and Dirty John. Alison Mo Massey and Katherine Bridle will join as co-executive producers, contributing their expertise to bring this espionage thriller to life.

Fans of Clarke may also remember her recent appearance in the Marvel Studios series Secret Invasion, which premiered on Disney+ in the summer of 2023. In the series, Clarke portrayed the Skrull G’iah, a character who ends the series with a host of other superheroes’ powers. This development has left many wondering about the future of her character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Director Ali Selim, who worked on Secret Invasion, addressed fans’ speculations by suggesting that G’iah’s storyline was carefully designed to be self-contained, even if the character doesn’t return to the MCU. “For me, the Olivia Colman/Emilia Clarke, Sonya/G’iah moment at the end, I think it does set up something really potentially interesting,” Selim told The Wrap. “But I think it’s also a lovely resolution to the story. And if they never show up in the MCU again, I feel fulfilled.”

With her diverse range of roles and continued commitment to intriguing and complex characters, Emilia Clarke continues to solidify her presence in the realm of television. The anticipation for Ponies is undoubtedly high, promising to deliver a thrilling narrative that combines espionage, drama, and Cold War intrigue.