Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Young Pope: Trailer sees Jude Law cook up scandal in Paolo Sorrentino's new TV series

The actor stars as Pius XIII in the Great Beauty director's English-language drama series 

Clarisse Loughrey
Sunday 04 September 2016 10:16 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Young Pope is already making a splash, though it's yet to hit TV screens.

The opening episodes of Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty, Youth)'s new television series hit Venice Film Festival, to rave reviews and plenty of comparisons to the machinations of House of Cards.

Sorrentino has joined forces in a three-pronged collaboration between Sky, HBO, and Canal Plus to bring his first English-language series to screen. Here, Jude Law plays the conflicted, chain-smoking first American pontiff Pius XIII; introduced on the morning of his first day in office, ready to enter into the secretive struggles of the Vatican state.

The series also features Diane Keaton's first recurring role in a TV series, as nun Sister Mary; alongside Silvio Orlando, Scott Shepherd, Cecile de France, Javier Cámara, Ludivine Sagnier, Tony Bertorelli, and James Cromwell.

It's a typically beautiful, extravagant-looking production from the Italian film director; with the shoot taking place primarily in Rome, including near the Vatican, as well as Venice and New York.

Here's the full synopsis:

Lenny Belardo, aka Pius XIII, is the first American Pope in history. Young and charming, his election might seem the result of a simple and effective media strategy by the College of Cardinals. But, as we know, appearances can be deceptive. Especially in the place and among the people who have chosen the great mystery of God as the guiding light of their existence. That place is the Vatican and those people are the leaders of the Catholic Church. And the most mysterious and contradictory figure of all turns out to be Pius XIII himself. Shrewd and naïve, old-fashioned and very modern, doubtful and resolute, ironic, pedantic, hurt and ruthless, Pius XIII tries to walk the long path of human loneliness to find a God for mankind. And for himself.

&#13; <p> </p>&#13;

The Young Pope airs in October exclusively on Sky Atlantic.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in