Atlantic Crossing: Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you’re diving into the World War II TV series Atlantic Crossing starring Kyle MacLachlan as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Sofia Helin as Crown Princess Martha of Norway for the first time or for the fifth, we’ve compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions from fans of the series.
- 1.
What is it about?
A princess forms a unique friendship with the president of the United States in the epic drama based on the World War II relationship of Franklin Roosevelt and Norwegian Crown Princess Martha. Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Sex and the City) stars as Roosevelt, opposite Swedish star Sofia Helin (The Bridge) as Martha, who fled the Nazis with her three young children and lived under Roosevelt’s protection during the height of the war. The series also stars Tobias Santelmann as Crown Prince Olav and Harriet Sansom Harris as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
- 2.
How many episodes are there of Atlantic Crossing?
Eight episodes of Atlantic Crossing originally aired on MASTERPIECE on PBS from April 4, 2021 to May 23, 2021.
- 3.
Where can I watch Atlantic Crossing?
You can watch all eight episodes of Atlantic Crossing on PBS Passport, an added member benefit, which also gives you extended access to a digital, on-demand library of more than 1,500 episodes of PBS favorites, including more select MASTERPIECE shows.
You can also watch Atlantic Crossing on the MASTERPIECE Amazon Channel (available to Amazon Prime members for an additional monthly cost).
You can purchase Atlantic Crossing from ShopPBS.org, as well as from iTunes and Google Play.
- 4.
Will there be another season of Atlantic Crossing?
No — Atlantic Crossing was written as a limited, eight-episode series, and has no plans to continue beyond that.
- 5.
Are all the events in Atlantic Crossing true?
Roosevelts with Crown Prince Olav of Norway and Crown Princess Martha. Everett Collection Historical / Alamy Stock Photo The series was inspired by true events of what happened to Crown Princess Martha, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and more during the Second World War, but certain parts have been fictionalized for the series.
“What ‘inspired by true events’ really means is that some of this actually happened, some of this could likely have happened, and the rest of it is made up,” series creator Alexander Eik told MASTERPIECE in an interview. “Atlantic Crossing is a fictionalized drama, inspired by true events. We know a lot about the whereabouts of the historical individuals, but we have little or no access to their feelings or any personal conflicts. No one knows really what was said behind closed doors, so when we see these characters in private, it’s entirely fiction. We have to envision what could have been said, and what the characters could have felt, based on the actual events and facts, but also based on human psychology.”
To find out more of what was true and what was fictionalized episode by episode, explore our Real History of Atlantic Crossing Episodes Guide.
- 6.
How can I find out more about the real-life history that inspired the series?
Explore all of our history-related special features to get a grasp on the politics of the time, as well as invaluable perspective on Franklin and Martha’s relationship. Start off with History to Know Before You Watch; then take a look at our timeline of Norwegian Crown Princess Martha and Prince Olav’s lives, from their marriage to the end of the war; and finally, read our interview with David B. Woolner, Senior Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute and author of The Last 100 Days: FDR at War and at Peace, who gave a deeper insight into the real-life friendship between Martha and Franklin.
- 7.
Where can I learn more about the cast?
Find out all about the talented and recognizable cast of Atlantic Crossing with our cast feature , which offers cast insights on their roles, where you’ve seen them before and some fun facts. Plus, read our exclusive cast interviews with the leading stars of the series, Kyle MacLachlan (President Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and Sofia Helin (Crown Princess Martha). Lastly, take a look at our compilation of surprising Kyle MacLachlan related facts here!
Plus, don’t miss the the MASTERPIECE Studio podcast for exclusive interviews with creator Alexander Eik and stars Kyle MacLachlan and Sofia Helin.
