The wait for a brand-new adaptation of Alexandre Dumasโ classic revenge tale is almost over. Sam Claflin transforms into Edmond Dantรจs in The Count of Monte Cristo, an eight-part epic coming to PBS Masterpiece. While the show already aired in Europe during 2024 and 2025, American audiences finally get their turn this spring.
If you are wondering exactly when new episodes drop, how to watch them before they air on television, or what happens in each installment, here is the complete breakdown of the release schedule, streaming options, and episode guide for the United States.
Two Different Release Dates: Streaming Comes First
The Count of Monte Cristo follows a dual-release strategy in the U.S. Viewers do not have to wait for the Sunday night broadcast to see what happens next.
March 1, 2026 is the date to circle if you want to watch early. All eight episodes become available for streaming on this day through PBS Passport, which is a member benefit for those who support their local PBS station. The episodes also drop simultaneously on PBS Masterpiece on Prime Video .
For viewers watching through traditional television, the journey begins on Sunday, March 22, 2026. PBS broadcasts the first episode at 10/9c. New episodes then air weekly, every Sunday at the same time, until the finale on May 10, 2026 .
This gap between streaming and broadcast gives fans a three-week head start to binge the entire story or watch at their own pace before the linear television premiere even begins.
The Eight-Week Television Broadcast Schedule
PBS confirmed the full television airdates for each episode. All broadcasts occur on Sundays at 10/9c.
| Episode Title | Broadcast Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| The Letter | March 22, 2026 | First mate Edmond Dantรจs safely guides his ship home to marry Mercedes, but three enemies falsely accuse him of treason. He is sent to the Chรขteau dโIf prison without a trial. |
| The Castle | March 29, 2026 | Edmond spends ten years losing hope in his island cell until he meets Abbรฉ Faria, a fellow prisoner digging a tunnel. Faria becomes his teacher and friend. |
| The Treasure | April 5, 2026 | After escaping, Edmond returns to Marseille. He learns his father died and Mercedes married. He meets Jacopo, an Italian smuggler, and sails to Monte Cristo island seeking the legendary treasure. |
| The Red Room | April 12, 2026 | Five years pass. Edmond reinvents himself as the wealthy Count of Monte Cristo and enters Parisian society. He invites his enemies to dinner and tells a chilling story about a newborn baby buried alive. |
| The Ball | April 19, 2026 | Edmond frees Haydรฉe, a enslaved princess, and brings her to Paris. At a ball, she publicly accuses Fernand of betraying her father. Mercedes grows suspicious of the Countโs identity. |
| Providence | April 26, 2026 | Edmond introduces Vampa, disguised as the wealthy Count of Spada, to society. He manipulates old Noirtier into revealing dangerous secrets that threaten his enemies. |
| The Duel | May 3, 2026 | Danglars exposes Fernandโs wartime betrayal. Fernandโs son, Albert, humiliated by the revelation, challenges Edmond to a duel. Edmond considers revealing the truth. |
| The Last Two | May 10, 2026 | Edmond ensures his remaining enemies face consequences for their crimes. Years later, he returns to Marseille and reunites with Mercedes, questioning if he can love again after years of vengeance. |
How to Watch From Outside the United States
The Count of Monte Cristo already completed its international rollout. The series first premiered at Canneseries Festival in France during October 2024. It then became available in the United Kingdom on U and U&Drama starting August 2, 2025 .
For viewers in Canada, Australia, and India, PBS distribution does not automatically include international rights. The primary streaming and broadcast dates announced by PBS are strictly for U.S. audiences. International viewers should check their local broadcasters or streaming platforms that license PBS Masterpiece content in their region. Some platforms may add the series later in 2026, but specific international release dates beyond the UK and Europe remain unconfirmed by official distributors.
How Long Are the Episodes and How Many Are There?
The series consists of one season with eight episodes. Each episode runs approximately 60 minutes during the broadcast slot, which airs from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time. The total runtime for the entire series is roughly eight hours .
Unlike some streaming series that vary episode length, the PBS broadcast adheres to a strict one-hour television format. The streaming version on PBS Passport and Prime Video matches these broadcast cuts.
The Cast Bringing the Story to Life
Sam Claflin, known for Daisy Jones and the Six and The Hunger Games series, plays Edmond Dantรจs. He leads a cast that blends international talent with British screen veterans.
Jeremy Irons portrays Abbรฉ Faria, the imprisoned priest who educates Edmond and reveals the treasureโs location. Ana Girardot plays Mercedes, Edmondโs fiancรฉe who eventually marries his rival Fernand. Blake Ritson takes on the role of Danglars, the shipโs purser who orchestrates Edmondโs imprisonment .
The production brings together companies from Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. Bille August, a two-time Palme dโOr and Oscar winner, directed all eight episodes. Filming took place over five months across Italy, Malta, and France, using locations that match the novelโs 19th-century Mediterranean setting .
What Makes This Adaptation Different
This version of The Count of Monte Cristo runs nearly eight hours, which gives the story room to breathe. Previous film adaptations compressed the 1,200-page novel into two or three hours. The television format allows viewers to spend time with Edmond during his imprisonment, his transformation into the Count, and the slow execution of his revenge.
Sam Claflin explained during press at Canneseries that the length allows the production to stay faithful to the book. โWhat I love about our production is the fact that we have the opportunity to sit with these characters and get to know them,โ he said. โI think we do a pretty good job of staying true to the bookโ .
The series also benefits from location filming at historically accurate sites. The Chรขteau dโIf, where Edmond is imprisoned, is a real fortress off Marseille. While the production could not film inside the actual protected monument, they used a building constructed during the same period .
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Why March 2026 Is the Right Time for This Story
The novel The Count of Monte Cristo first appeared serially in France during the 1840s. Nearly 180 years later, revenge stories still dominate television and film. What separates this adaptation from others is its focus on the emotional cost of revenge rather than just the action sequences.
Director Bille August described the story as one that restores belief in love despite the darkness. The eight-episode format lets viewers watch Edmond transform from a hopeful young sailor into a man consumed by vengeance, and finally into someone who must decide if justice and love can coexist.
The production also respects the novelโs historical context. Alexandre Dumas based Edmondโs imprisonment on the true story of Franรงois Picaud, a man wrongly imprisoned who spent years plotting revenge against his accusers. Dumas also drew from his own fatherโs experiencesโGeneral Alexandre Dumas, who was imprisoned in Naples after falling out with Napoleon .
Where to Watch Previous Adaptations While Waiting
For viewers who want to revisit the story before March, several versions are currently streaming. The 2002 film starring Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce is available on various rental platforms. The 1975 television film with Richard Chamberlain is considered one of the most faithful older adaptations. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, a 2004 anime series that reimagines the story in a sci-fi setting, streams on several anime platforms.
PBS also recommends streaming Les Misรฉrables, another Dumas contemporary adaptation, with PBS Passport while waiting for The Count of Monte Cristo to premiere .
The Count of Monte Cristo arrives on PBS Passport and Prime Video on March 1, 2026, with the broadcast debut following on March 22, 2026. Each Sunday brings a new chapter until the finale on May 10, 2026. Whether you binge all eight episodes in the first week of March or savor them weekly on television, the complete story of Edmond Dantรจs finally reaches American screens this spring.
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