Cannes Market Dailies

Production is set to begin this summer on The Young Pope, an eight-episode drama series from Academy Award-winning director, Paolo Sorrentino, starring two-time Academy Award nominee Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Sherlock Holmes, Cold Mountain) in the title role.

            The series is a joint production of Sky, HBO and Canal +.  All eight episodes will be directed by Sorrentino and written by Sorrentino in collaboration with Tony Grisoni, Umberto Contarello and Stefano Rulli.  

            The Young Pope tells the controversial story of the beginning of PIUS XIII’s Pontificate, born Lenny Belardo (Jude Law). A complex and conflicted character, so conservative in his choices as to border on obscurantism, yet full of compassion towards the weak and poor. He is a man of great power who is stubbornly resistant to the Vatican courtiers, unconcerned with the implications to his authority. During the series, Belardo will face losing those closest to him and the constant fear of being abandoned, even by his God. A man who is however not afraid of undertaking the millennial mission of defending that same God and the world representing Him.

The series is being produced by Wildside, and co-produced by Haut et Court TV. Executive Producers for Wildside are Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani together with John Lyons. Executive Producers for Haut et Court TV are Caroline Benjo, Carole Scotta and Simon Arnal.

            The Young Pope is a major co-production for HBO and the newly merged Sky, representing the unique opportunity these pay-television platforms offer the creative community worldwide.

             Production on The Young Pope will begin this summer and continue through early 2016.  The series will film predominantly in Italy with additional locations to include the United States, Africa and Puerto Rico.