It’s an episode Prince Andrew would no doubt wish to be forgotten, but his car-crash “Newsnight” interview is set to enthral viewers yet again in Prime Video’s upcoming dramatization.
“A Very Royal Scandal,” which stars Michael Sheen as the disgraced prince and Ruth Wilson as arch interviewer Emily Maitlis, has been set for release on the streaming platform on Sept. 19, Variety can confirm.
Ruth Wilson as Emily Maitlis in ‘A Very Royal Scandal’ (Courtesy of Prime Video)
The streamer has also debuted a series of first-look images from the series, showing “Good Omens” star Sheen’s transformation into the British royal, who was widely criticized for his defense of his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his failure to mention Epstein’s victims during the 2019 interview.
Wilson (“Luther,” “The Affair”) suits up as BBC anchor Maitlis, whose cool performance and professionalism during the interview was highly praised.
“One night. One hour. One interview that sent shockwaves around the globe,” reads the synopsis. “Based on the real-life 2019 interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew over the scandalous accusations he faced regarding his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre. ‘A Very Royal Scandal’ follows the action of Maitlis and Prince Andrew in the lead-up to the interview, the ground-breaking event itself and the many questions left in its wake that would change their lives forever.”
Michael Sheen as Prince Andrew in ‘A Very Royal Scandal’ (Courtesy of Prime Video)
Julian Jarrold (“The Crown”) directs from a screenplay by Jeremy Brock (“The Last King of Scotland.”)
Rounding out the cast are Joanna Scanlan (“After Love”) as Andrew’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk, Eanna Hardwicke (“The Doll Factory”) as “Newsnight” deputy editor Stewart, Alexander Owen (“Dreaming Whilst Black”) as investigations producer Jake Morris, Sam Troughton (“Ragdoll”) as Queen Elizabeth II’s communications secretary Donal McCabe, Claire Rushbrook (“Inside No. 9”) as Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and Clare Calbraith (“Tell Me Everything”) as “Newsnight” booker Sam Mcalister.
A Netflix dramatization of the interview, based on a book by Mcalister and starring Rufus Sewell as Andrew, was released earlier this year. Maitlis is an executive producer on “A Very Royal Scandal,” which is understood to be told more from her perspective.
Clare Calbraith, Ruth Wilson and Éanna Hardwicke in ‘A Very Royal Scandal’ (Courtesy of Prime Video)
Joining Maitlis as exec producers are Karen Thrussell, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Diarmuid McKeown, Jeremy Brock and Julian Jarrold. Josh Hyams is a producer on the series.
The show is part of anthology of limited series that includes “A Very English Scandal,” which starred Hugh Grant as a politician planning the murder of his lover, and “A Very British Scandal,” about the notorious divorce of the Duke and Duchess of Argylle, played by Paul Bettany and Claire Foy.
“A Very Royal Scandal” is produced by Blueprint Television for Amazon MGM Studios and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television.