"The Two Princes" is a fantasy action adventure podcast produced by Gimlet Media. Kevin Christopher Snipes created and wrote the story, and Mimi O'Donnell directed it. The plot follows two princes from two kingdoms that are at war. They become unexpected allies when they travel into a mysterious forest to save their kingdoms. During their journey, the two princes develop feelings for each other.
Cast
The official cast was announced on May 23, 2019.
- Noah Galvin as Prince Rupert of the West
- Ari'el Stachel as Prince Amir of the East
- Christine Baranski as Queen Lavinia of the West
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Queen Atossa of the East
- Samira Wiley as Joan
- Alfredo Narciso as Barabbas and The Lord Hieronymus Chamberlain
- Mandi Masden as Lady Cecily and Crazy Tooth
- Richard Kind as Cedric Strangelove
- Matthew Rhys as Sir Percy
- Omar Metwally as The King of the East
- Sean Pertwee as The King of the West
- Laura Benanti as Flora
- Daphne Rubin-Vega as Arachne
- C. J. Wilson as Brutus
- Cynthia Erivo as Queen Malkia of the Midlands
- Tonya Pinkins as Upendo
- Gideon Glick as Percy Junior
- Ali Stroker as Lorelei
- Michael Braun as The Hydra
- Kathryn Kates as The Barkeep
- Jonah Fields as Wenceslaus
- Wesley Taylor as Prince Darling of the North
Episodes
All episodes of season one were released on June 4, 2019. All episodes of season two were released on December 11, 2019. The third season was released on October 20, 2020.
Reception
The Guardian named The Two Princes as the Week's Best Home Entertainment for June 2019. Later, it was listed as one of the Six Best Serialized Podcasts of 2019.
Podcast reviewer Wil Williams wrote that The Two Princes is "fun, sweet, and incredibly enjoyable," even though it is not perfect. She praised the podcast's "playful and over-the-top style," its "fantastical plot," and its "modern humor." Williams highlighted the "star-studded" cast, saying that the actors performed with joy and enthusiasm, making the podcast "genuinely charming." She also noted that the romance between the two main characters was handled well, with the story's familiar elements feeling comforting rather than unoriginal. Williams mentioned that the podcast gives LGBTQ+ audiences a rare chance to enjoy a "sweet and fun" story. However, she pointed out that the sound design felt "not very natural" and "unpersonal."
The Nerd Daily listed seven reasons to listen to The Two Princes: "A truly epic LGBTQ+ romance that ends happily, a dragon named Porridge, strong female characters, a complex parent/child relationship handled well, standout sound effects, a clear and easy-to-follow story, and delightful performances from all the actors in the star-studded cast."
Adaptation
In February 2020, Deadline reported that Spotify was discussing an agreement with HBO Max to create an hour-long animated TV special based on The Two Princes. Other groups were also interested in making the special. Kevin Snipes, the original writer of the story, will work on the adaptation. It has not yet been confirmed if the original voice actors will return to their roles. Warner Bros. Animation will handle the animation for the special, which will be produced by Chris Giliberti and Justin McGoldrick from Gimlet Media. No additional updates have been shared since that time.