Quick Facts
| Title | Franklin |
| Network | Apple TV+ |
| Format | 8-episode limited series (biographical drama) |
| Aired | April 12 – May 17, 2024 (complete, one season) |
| Starring | Michael Douglas as Benjamin Franklin |
| Based on | “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America” by Stacy Schiff |
| Composer | Jay Wadley |
| Critical reception | 71% (Rotten Tomatoes), 57/100 (Metacritic) — “mixed or average reviews,” praised mainly for Douglas’ performance |
Franklin Soundtrack 2024: Franklin is an Apple TV+ limited series starring Michael Douglas, an Oscar, Emmy, and AFI Lifetime Achievement Award winner, as Benjamin Franklin.
The series, also executive produced by Douglas, premiered globally on Apple TV+ with its first three episodes on Friday, April 12, 2024, followed by one new episode every Friday through May 17, 2024. All eight episodes have since aired, and the series is complete as a one-season limited run — no second season has been announced, consistent with its limited-series format.
The series is based on the book, “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America,” by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff.
Who Composed Franklin’s Soundtrack?
- Jay Wadley: Jay Wadley is a New York-based composer and music producer who is a two-time winner of the Charles Ives Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and was featured in IndieWire’s 10 Best Scores of the Year lists for 2020 and 2016.
He previously composed music for Charlie Kaufman’s psychological drama I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020). For Franklin, Wadley spent roughly six months recording nearly five hours of original material at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, blending baroque and contemporary classical writing with Americana horns and electroacoustic textures to evoke the show’s 18th-century setting with a modern sensibility. The 27-track Franklin: Season 1 score album (about an hour of music) is available on Apple Music.
Franklin Soundtrack List
Franklin’s music is almost entirely Jay Wadley’s original score rather than a licensed-song soundtrack. The full Franklin: Season 1 (Apple Original Series Soundtrack) — 27 tracks — is streaming on Apple Music and other platforms. We have not found a verified cue-by-cue, scene-by-scene breakdown from a primary source, so we’re not going to guess at track placements; check the official soundtrack listing linked above for the complete track order.
The full Franklin score by Jay Wadley is available on Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Till then, you can check out other soundtrack lists on Apple TV+.
Official Trailer: Here is the series trailer, where you can watch a glimpse of the series and its characters.
What is the storyline of the series? It explores one of the greatest gambles of Franklin’s career. At age 70, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies and French informers while engineering the Franco-American alliance of 1778. (From IMDb)
Release Date: April 12, 2024 (United States), complete as of May 17, 2024
Genres: Biography, Drama, History
The series is directed by Tim Van Patten, with writing credits to Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Franklin holds a 71% approval rating from critics, with the consensus reading that the series’ “unhurried retelling of revolutionary history can be dry as parchment, but Michael Douglas’ sly performance as the founding father gives it a compelling jolt.” Metacritic lists a weighted score of 57/100, indicating “mixed or average” reviews — critics were largely more enthusiastic about Douglas’ central performance than about the show’s pacing.
(External Link: Apple TV+ Press — Franklin)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the score for Franklin?
Jay Wadley, a New York-based composer and two-time Charles Ives Award winner, composed the original score, recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville.
Has Franklin been renewed for a second season?
No. Franklin was always designed as an 8-episode limited series and completed its full run on May 17, 2024. There is no announced second season.
Who wrote and directed Franklin?
Kirk Ellis and Howard Korder wrote the series, and Tim Van Patten directed all eight episodes.
How was Franklin received by critics?
Reviews were mixed-to-positive: 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57/100 on Metacritic. Michael Douglas’ performance was singled out as the show’s strongest element.
Where can I stream the Franklin score?
The 27-track Franklin: Season 1 soundtrack by Jay Wadley is available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube.
Related reading: browse more TV soundtracks, or see what else is streaming on Apple TV+.