Michael Sheen to Star as Prince Andrew in Upcoming Amazon Series: A Very Royal Scandal
Welsh actor Michael Sheen and Luther actress Ruth Wilson are set to headline the upcoming Amazon Studios series, A Very Royal Scandal, which is set to explore the explosive Newsnight interview that rocked Prince Andrew's reputation. The three-part drama, currently in production in the UK, will portray journalist Emily Maitlis's journey leading up to her face-off with the Duke of York in November 2019.
The interview, which saw Prince Andrew confronted with sex-trafficking allegations involving Jeffrey Epstein, led to his withdrawal from royal duties and a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, the alleged victim. In the series, Sheen, known for his convincing portrayals of real figures such as Tony Blair and David Frost, will play the role of Prince Andrew.
After leaving Newsnight, Emily Maitlis now co-hosts The News Agents podcast and serves as an executive producer for the upcoming series. She shared her excitement on social media, stating, "Blimey. First time I've seen this in print. What an exceptional cast." Ruth Wilson will portray her character in the show.
Directed by Julian Jarrold and written by Jeremy Brock, the cast also includes Joanna Scanlan as Andrew's ex-private secretary Amanda Thirsk, Alex Jennings as the late Queen's private secretary Sir Edward Young, and Eanna Hardwicke as Newsnight editor Stewart Maclean.
This new addition to the anthology series, which previously covered scandals involving Jeremy Thorpe and Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, aims to offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on Maitlis's professional and personal journey leading up to the high-profile interview.
The Netflix film adaptation of the interview is also in the works, with Gillian Anderson as Maitlis and Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew, offering a parallel perspective on this controversial moment in royal history.
