The cast has been announced for a new Netflix drama about Prince Andrew's bombshell interview with Newsnight in 2019. The feature-film, which is called Scoop, is based on Newsnight producer Sam McAllister's memoir about how the shock interview with the royal came to be.
Production has now started on the film, which sees Sex Education's Gillian Anderson play journalist Emily Maitlis and The Holiday star Rufus Sewell take on the role of King Charles III's brother, Prince Andrew. In addition, Keeley Hawes will play Amanda Thirsk, the former Private Secretary to Prince Andrew while Billie Piper is Sam McAlister.
Scoop will follow the inside track of the women that broke through the Buckingham Palace establishment to secure the scoop of the decade, which led to the fall from grace of The Queen’s ‘favourite son'. The story was previously adapted into a Channel 4 musical last year - Read more about that here.
Read more: King Charles tells Prince Andrew he can 'no longer use Buckingham Palace suites'
After production began on the new film, the real-life McAlister said: “It is beyond my wildest dreams, especially as a first time writer, to end up working with this extraordinary cast, Netflix, and the amazing teams at The Lighthouse and Voltage. Watching Billie Piper, one of my favourite actresses, play ‘me’ will be a pinch myself moment and I’m truly thrilled to be involved in this film.”
Director Phillip Martin, who is known for his work on The Crown, added of working on the project: “I’m thrilled to be directing this film for Netflix and – together with an extraordinary cast – to be bringing Sam McAlister’s revelatory insider’s account to the screen. Uptempo, immersive and cinematic, I want to put the audience inside the breathtaking sequence of events that led to the interview with Prince Andrew – to tell a story about a search for answers, in a world of speculation and varying recollections. It’s a film about power, privilege and differing perspectives and how – whether in glittering palaces or hi-tech newsrooms – we judge what’s true.”
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