Scoop
Directed byPhilip Martin
Screenplay byPeter Moffat
Based onScoops: Behind The Scenes of the BBC's Most Shocking Interview
by Sam McAlister
Produced by
  • Hilary Salmon
  • Radford Neville
  • Sanjay Singhal
Starring
Production
companies
  • The Lighthouse Film & Television
  • Voltage TV
Distributed byNetflix
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Scoop is an upcoming British biographical drama film made for Netflix starring Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, Billie Piper, and Keeley Hawes. Directed by Philip Martin, it is a dramatic retelling of the process of securing the 2019 BBC television interview of Prince Andrew by presenter and journalist Emily Maitlis and the production team at BBC Two news and current affairs programme Newsnight. The film is an adaptation by Peter Moffat of former Newsnight editor Sam McAlister's book Scoops: Behind The Scenes of the BBC's Most Shocking Interview.

Synopsis

The behind-the-scenes story of the women who negotiated with the Buckingham Palace establishment to secure the "scoop of the decade" that was the public catalyst for the downfall of Prince Andrew, in a televised interview which focused on Andrew's relationship with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of Andrew's sexual assault of a minor which Andrew denies and in early 2022 settled out of a court for a £12 million settlement. The interview was later described as less a car crash than "a plane crashing into an oil tanker, causing a tsunami, triggering a nuclear explosion."[1][2]

Cast

Production

An adaptation of former Newsnight producer Sam McAlister's book Scoops: Behind The Scenes of the BBC's Most Shocking Interviews by Peter Moffat for The Lighthouse Film & Television and Voltage TV was announced in July 2022.[4] Moffat said the adaptation was concentrating on "about how the BBC's Newsnight team got the scoop...[and]...Why did he agree to do it?" It would be directed by Philip Martin and produced by Hilary Salmon and Radford Neville for The Lighthouse and Sanjay Singhal for Voltage TV.[5] Anderson, Sewell, Hawes and Piper were announced as part of the cast in February 2023.[6] McAlister, who was in part responsible for negotiating and booking the Prince, said it was "a pinch myself moment" to be played by Piper. Hawes is to play Prince Andrew's former Private Secretary Amanda Thirsk.[7]

Filming

Principal photography commenced in early 2023, ahead of an anticipated launch in 2024.[8] Shots of Anderson in costume as Maitlis on set were revealed online in late February 2023.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Feature Film About Prince Andrew's Bombshell BBC Interview Heads to Netflix, Rufus Sewell Cast As Disgraced Royal". Hollywood Reporter. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  2. ^ Murphy, Michael (February 7, 2023). "Gillian Anderson to play Emily Maitlis in Netflix drama based on Prince Andrew interview". The Telegraph. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Kanter, Jake (March 14, 2023). "'Scoop': Connor Swindells, Romola Garai Join Cast Of Netflix's Prince Andrew Movie As Jeffrey Epstein Snapper & 'Newsnight' Editor". Deadline. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  4. ^ "Prince Andrew's Bombshell BBC Interview To Become A Hot Movie Called 'Scoop'". Deadline. July 14, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  5. ^ "Scoop': Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell & More Join Prince Andrew Bombshell BBC Interview Movie At Netflix". Deadline. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  6. ^ "Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper, Rufus Sewell Board Netflix's Prince Andrew 'Newsnight' Interview Film 'Scoop'". Variety. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  7. ^ "Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell to Lead Netflix's 'Scoop'". Collider. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. ^ "Gillian Anderson to play Emily Maitlis in Netflix film". The Times. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  9. ^ "First look at Gillian Anderson's transformation for new Netflix movie Scoop". Digital Spy. February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.

External links

Philip Martin selected filmography
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