Gillian Anderson in character as Emily Maitlis and Rufus Sewell in character as Prince Andrew in ‘Scoop,’ upcoming on Netflix.Photo:PETER MOUNTAIN/NETFLIX
PETER MOUNTAIN/NETFLIX
On Tuesday, the streamer debuted the teaser for the upcoming film starring Gillian Anderson as BBCNewsnightanchor Emily Maitlis opposite Rufus Sewell as the Duke of York, announcing thatScoopwill premiere on April 5.
“To get an interview this big, you have to be bold,” Netflix captioned the clip onX.
The trailer opened with Anderson in character as Maitlis walking onto a broadcast set, juxtaposed with Billie Piper portraying Sam McAlister, the producer who negotiated Prince Andrew’s booking, moving through a newsroom. The camera cut to the exterior of Buckingham Palace, and Rufus Sewell walking through royal rooms in character as Prince Andrew.
“This is the story, the only story. I want it for us,” a voice said as the footage rolled.
To the tune of dramatic music, the trailer cuts to Piper as McAlister making her way through the palace gates. Another voice said, “Thursday, 2 p.m., the palace. Two chairs in the middle of the floor, six feet apart,” another voice echoed, as that setup was organized.
The teaser imagined the producer walking in on Maitlis doing her makeup, and the anchor deeply sighed.
“Based on the memoir of an insider,” text flashed across the screen, as the teaser cut to McAlister and Keeley Hawes, who portrays Amanda Thirsk, Prince Andrew’s private secretary at the time, seemingly sharing a glance behind the scenes of the interview set as an operator got a camera in place. “One interview can change everything,” the text continued.
Gillian Anderson in character as Emily Maitlis and Rufus Sewell in character as Prince Andrew in ‘Scoop,’ upcoming on Netflix.PETER MOUNTAIN/NETFLIX
The music hit a climax as the footage flashed to imagine Maitlis and Andrew getting settled in their seats for the interview, with shifting from Sewell.
“Your Royal Highness,” Anderson began.
The upcoming film is based on McAlister’s real-life memoir,Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews, and Netflixsaidthe movie will reveal “the story of the women who secured the scoop of the decade.”
Gillian Anderson and Emily Maitlis.Mike Marsland/WireImage; Darren Gerrish/WireImage
“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,” Martin said in astatementto Netflix about his vision forScoop. “It’s a film about power, privilege, and differing perspectives and how — whether in glittering palaces or high-tech newsrooms — we judge what’s true.”
Rufus Sewell and Prince Andrew.Todd Williamson/Getty for Amazon Studios; Eamonn McCormack/Getty
In November 2019, Prince Andrew sat with Maitlis for aNewsnight interviewrecorded inside the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace. The Duke of York, now 63, opened up about his links to Epstein for the first time, speaking out about his relationship with the disgraced millionaire and allegations that he had sex withVirginia Roberts(now Virginia Giuffre) when she was 17.
In the sit-down, Prince Andrew said he had “no recollection of ever meeting" Giuffre. When Maitlis raised the issue of a photo showing the royal with his arm around Giuffre’s waist, he claimed, “I have absolutely no memory of that photograph ever being taken.”
Prince Andrew after attending the royal family’s traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on Dec. 25, 2023.ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
Prince Andrew has denied any wrongdoing. Though he is no longer a working royal, he has continued to step out with his family for events likeChristmasand Easter, as well as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022 and the coronation ofKing Charlesin May 2023.
Scoop isn’t the onlyNewsnight-inspired feature in the works. Last November,Varietyreported that Amazon is at work on a limited series titledA Very Royal Scandalabout the “disastrous interview.” The upcoming series stars Michael Sheen as Prince Andrew and Ruth Wilson as Emily Maitlis, with Amazon yet to reveal a release date.
source: people.com
