Following the success of “The Crown,” Netflix is delving into another royal scandal with the upcoming release of the film “Scoop.” The movie centers around the controversial 2019 BBC “Newsnight” interview between anchor Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, portrayed by Rufus Sewell. Gillian Anderson, known for her role in “The Crown,” takes on the role of Maitlis in this film adaptation based on the book “Scoops: Behind The Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interview” by former “Newsnight” editor Sam McAlister.
The interview in question took place amidst allegations against Prince Andrew in connection with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. During the broadcast, Prince Andrew addressed the allegations and his relationship with Epstein, claiming he only knew him through socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell, who was later convicted on sex-trafficking charges, has been a central figure in various true crime shows, including a Starz docuseries.
“Scoop” aims to provide viewers with behind-the-scenes insight into the high-stakes efforts to secure the interview with Prince Andrew and the subsequent fallout. The film promises to take audiences inside the story with the women involved in pursuing it.
Directed by Philip Martin and written by Peter Moffatt, known for “Your Honor,” the film also features Keeley Hawes, Romola Garai, and Billie Piper, who portrays editor Sam McAlister. Hilary Salmon and Radford Neville produce for The Lighthouse Film & TV, with author Sam McAlister serving as an executive producer alongside Sanjay Singhal for Voltage TV.
Gillian Anderson, who has recently taken on real-life roles such as Margaret Thatcher in “The Crown” and Eleanor Roosevelt in Showtime’s “The First Lady,” spoke about her iconic role as FBI Agent Dana Scully in “The X-Files,” emphasizing the character’s uniqueness rather than explicitly labeling her as feminist. Anderson’s versatility as an actress adds to the anticipation surrounding “Scoop” and her portrayal of Emily Maitlis.
With its star-studded cast and promise of an insider’s perspective on a headline-making event, “Scoop” is poised to captivate audiences and shed light on one of the most talked-about interviews in recent memory.
