This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
On September 15, 2019, Apple TV+ premiered its first show, 'Dickinson', at the Tribeca TV Festival, marking a significant step in the company's bid to attract young, loyal fans to its streaming service.
The show, a period drama, reimagines the life of American poet Emily Dickinson, played by Hailee Steinfeld, who rose to fame with her breakout role in 'Pitch Perfect 2' and debut single 'Love Myself'.
Steinfeld's Dickinson is a firebrand who writes poetry furiously into the night and flirts with Death, a character played by rapper Wiz Khalifa, all while feeling constrained by the expectations she faces as a woman in 1850s New England.
According to Steinfeld, the pressure that Emily Dickinson faced in her life is still felt by women today.
Steinfeld also surprised the Tribeca audience by announcing that she will release her new single 'Afterlife' on September 19, which will feature in the show.
Apple TV+ has invested heavily in 'Dickinson', with a reported $2 billion budget for original programming this year. The show's cast members praised the company's attention to detail in creating lavish period costumes and sets.
Apple is offering a year of free TV service to customers who purchase most Apple devices, in a bid to compete with Disney+ and Netflix in the streaming TV market.
At launch, Apple TV+ will be available in over 100 markets.
