Prince Andrew is set to follow in the footsteps of his nephew Prince Harry by heading to Netflix, although the disgraced royal won’t be enjoying the same kind of bumper payday from the streamer as he’s not getting his own reality show – no, he’s not the subject of a true crime series either, but rather a feature film adaptation of his 2019 trainwreck of an interview on Newsnight.
As per Deadline, filming is now underway on Scoop, which is being directed by Philip Martin (The Crown) and has Gillian Anderson portraying Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis and Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew. Also featuring in the cast are Keeley Hawes as Andrew’s former Private Secretary Amanda Thirsk and Billie Piper as Newsnight producer Sam McAlister, whose book Scoops: Behind The Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews is serving as the basis for the film.
“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,” said Martin. “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.”
“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,” added McAlister. “Watching Billie Piper, one of my favorite actresses, play ‘me’ will be a pinch myself moment and I’m truly thrilled to be involved in this film.”
