Jude Law Considering Lead Role in 'The Young Pope' Series
British actor Jude Law is reported to be in early talks to play an American pope in Paolo Sorrentino's TV series called "The Young Pope." This was confirmed by his representative.
The news first came out in Italian media and was confirmed subsequently in American news sites like The Hollywood Reporter. Law is known for his American roles in "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Cold Mountain," despite his being British.
Sorrentino is an Italian director and screenwriter with some of his works recognized in the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscars. "The Young Pope" is the director's first foray into television. The English-language series, according to the report, is said to be for international distribution.
The story of "The Young Pope" will revolve around a fictional American pope who becomes the most conservative Pope that sat at the Vatican, which is the exact opposite of the state of the Vatican nowadays. The setting of the series will be the US, the Vatican and Africa.
Sorrentino is said to be collaborating with Tony Grisoni and Stefano Rulli to write the eight episodes of the series. Grisoni revealed some of the story details of the show.
"Sorrentino's show is about a hardline conservative American pope 'recruited' by the Vatican because they're fed up of liberals. But no one, even at the Vatican, is prepared for how hardline this American Pope really is," he told Variety.
Deadline describes the story as one about an Italian-American who becomes the pope. It also "examines his fears, conflicts, struggles, and the search for meaning and the need for love."
The show was also reported to start production in July 2015 at the Cinecitta Studios. It is being produced by Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani of "Wildside" (1992), in collaboration with Sky Italia. John Lyons who is a former Focus Features president for productions is the executive producer.
