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The Young Pope

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The Young Pope
Promotional poster
GenreDrama
Created byPaolo Sorrentino
Written by
Directed byPaolo Sorrentino
Starring
Theme music composerTimothy McKenzie
Bob Dylan
Jimi Hendrix
Opening theme"Watchtower" (Instrumental) prod. by Labrinth
ComposerLele Marchitelli
Country of origin
Original languages
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Production locations
CinematographyLuca Bigazzi
EditorCristiano Travaglioli
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time46–60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
Release21 October 2016 (2016-10-21) –
present

The Young Pope is an English-language Italian television drama series created and directed by Paolo Sorrentino for Sky Atlantic, HBO, and Canal+. The series stars Jude Law and Diane Keaton.[1]

The series premiered on 21 October 2016 on Sky Atlantic in Italy. On 20 October 2016, Wildside producer Lorenzo Mieli announced that a second season of the series is in development.[2]

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Guy Boyd as Archbishop Kurtwell, accused of having perpetrated sexual abuse on several children
  • Andre Gregory as Elmore Coen, a writer
  • Rayna Tharani as Maribeth, Cardinal Dussolier's married girlfriend
  • Tony Plana as Carlos García, an Honduran drug dealer whose wife has had a relationship with Cardinal Dussolier
  • Jan Hoag as Rose, the manager of a hotel in New York City
  • Kevin Jackson as Pete Washington, a potential witness of Kurtwell's crimes
  • Carolina Carlsson as the Prime Minister of Greenland
  • Gianluca Guidi as Father Federico Amatucci, Cardinal Voiello's confidant
  • Ignazio Oliva as Father Valente, one of the Pope's assistants
  • Sebastian Roché as Cardinal Michel Marivaux[3]
  • Franco Pinelli as Tonino Pettola, a charlatan who claims that he can see the Virgin Mother among his sheep flock
  • Marcello Romolo as Don Tommaso (later created a Cardinal), the Pope's confessor
  • Daniel Vivian as Domen, the Pope's butler
  • Vladimir Bibic as Cardinal Ozolins
  • Biagio Forestieri as Peter, a member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard and Esther's husband
  • Ramón García as His Eminence Cardinal Aguirre
  • Nadee Kammellaweera as Sister Suree
  • Maurizio Lombardi as Cardinal Mario Assente
  • Madalina Bellariu as Elena, an escort
  • Alex Esola as Freddy Blakestone, a tennis player that was involved in the Kurtwell case
  • Alessia Giulia Trujillo Alva as Blessed Juana
  • Delaina Mitchell as Lenny Belardo's former girlfriend
  • Monica Cetti as Countess Meraviglia

Flashbacks

  • Olivia Macklin as Lenny Belardo's mother
  • Collin Smith as Lenny Belardo's father
  • Allison Case as young Sister Mary
  • Frank Gingerich as young Lenny Belardo
  • Jack McQuaid as young Andrew Dussolier
  • Ann Darlington Carr as the Custodian's wife, miraculously cured by Lenny's prayer
  • Brian Keane as the Custodian

Guests

  • Stefano Accorsi as the Prime Minister of Italy
  • Nicolas Coster as an American journalist
  • Massimiliano Gallo as Captain Becchi, a Carabinieri officer
  • Milvia Marigliano as Sister Antonia, a missionary nun serving in Africa
  • Marcos Franz as Ángelo Sanchez, a young boy whose application to become priest has been rejected
  • Emilio Dino Conti as the Prime Minister of Italy's advisor
  • Todd Grinnell as Archbishop Kurtwell's assistant
  • Troy Ruptash as David Tanistone, Archbishop Kurtwell's secret son

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateItal. viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino21 October 2016 (2016-10-21)0.953 (overnight)[4]
After being elected Pope, Lenny Belardo must navigate the politics of Vatican City. He shocks the Vatican with his desire to reject both publicity and the liberal philosophy of his predecessor.
2"Episode 2"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino21 October 2016 (2016-10-21)0.953 (overnight)[4]
Lenny shocks the world with his first address, in which he demands Catholics worldwide devote themselves body and soul to God no matter the consequences. Sister Mary and Cardinal Voiello struggle to control Lenny, who admits that his conservative religious views result from his parents' decision to place him in a Catholic orphanage so they could pursue a hedonistic lifestyle.
3"Episode 3"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino & Stefano Rulli28 October 2016 (2016-10-28)0.517[5]
Lenny plans to lead a resurgence of conservative Christianity despite the efforts of his mentor, Cardinal Spencer, and the rival Cardinal Voiello. Lenny forces Voiello to reveal that liberal forces in the College of Cardinals blocked Spencer's election as Pope, resulting in an agreement between the two men to use Lenny as a puppet. When Lenny threatens to excommunicate Voiello, the liberal cardinal is forced to swear loyalty to him. Later, a chance encounter with Esther, the wife of a member of the Swiss Guard, results in Lenny having a seizure in her presence.
4"Episode 4"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino & Stefano Rulli28 October 2016 (2016-10-28)0.517[5]
Lenny arranges for a nun's sister to be brought to the Vatican for burial, then berates her at the funeral for crying. Lenny denies Spencer a promotion and severs ties with him as punishment for his attempt to manipulate him. Voiello arranges for Esther to work as an assistant to the Pope in the hope that they will develop a sexual relationship that he can exploit to his advantage. Lenny makes a comment about the gay aide to the female prime minister of Greenland, whom some cardinals flirt with before a meeting.
5"Episode 5"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino4 November 2016 (2016-11-04)0.508[6]
Lenny sidesteps Esther's sexual advances, thwarting Voiello's persistent machinations to bring him down with illicit sexual scandal. Lenny, however, reveals that he has already known everyone's secrets. Lenny asks Andrew to become prefect of the Papal Household.
6"Episode 6"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino4 November 2016 (2016-11-04)0.508[6]
Lenny meets the Prime Minister and exchanges verbal maneuverings. Lenny gives him a list of shocking and preposterous demands, using political blackmail to get his way. Lenny forces Andrew to block the entrance of new priests who do not adhere to clerical celibacy. A young priest is denied admittance and commits suicide in St. Peter's Square.
7"Episode 7"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino & Tony Grisoni11 November 2016 (2016-11-11)0.490[7]
8"Episode 8"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino & Tony Grisoni11 November 2016 (2016-11-11)0.490[7]
9"Episode 9"Paolo SorrentinoUmberto Contarello & Paolo Sorrentino18 November 2016 (2016-11-18)0.550[8]
10"Episode 10"Paolo SorrentinoUmberto Contarello & Paolo Sorrentino18 November 2016 (2016-11-18)0.550[8]

Production

The Young Pope, the first TV series by Paolo Sorrentino, was produced by Fausto Brizzi, Lorenzo Mieli e Mario Gianani, together with the French company Haut et Court TV and the Spanish company Mediapro.[9] The project was financed by Sky, Canal+ and HBO, which contributed 40 million euros, with part of the money coming from the European Regional Development Fund. Production of the first 10 episodes of the first season took three years between 2014 and 2016.[10][11]

The script was written by Sorrentino, Stefano Rulli, Tony Grisoni and Umberto Contarello.[12] The cast, announced between July and August 2015, includes Jude Law as the young pope; Diane Keaton as Sister Mary; James Cromwell, Silvio Orlando, Scott Shepherd, Javier Cámara and Toni Bertorelli. It also includes Cécile de France, Ludivine Sagnier, Guy Boyd, Andre Gregory, Sebastian Roché, Marcello Romolo, Ignazio Oliva, Vladimir Bibic, Daniel Vivian e Nadie Kammalaweera.[13][14] The main character is almost always seen only from the waist up, to give the impression that he might be soaring. Sorrentino said he inherited this technique from Spike Lee.[15]

Filming of the first season, which took seven months, started in August 2015 and took place mainly in the Cinecittà studios, where the interior of the Vatican was recreated. Exterior shots and garden scenes were taken at a number of villas, primarily Villa Lante (Bagnaia), Villa Medici, and Orto Botanico dell'Università di Roma "La Sapienza", while some interior shots were also taken inside Palazzo Venezia.[10][11][15] Parts of the last episode were shot in piazza San Marco in Venice.[16]

The show was renewed for a second season.[11]

Broadcast

The series premiered on 21 October 2016 on Sky Atlantic in Italy, 27 October 2016 on Sky Atlantic in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, 28 October 2016 on HBO in various European countries, and will premiere on 15 January 2017 on HBO in the United States.[17][18]

Reception

Critical response

The Young Pope received widespread critical acclaim in the UK,[19][20] Ireland, and Italy.[21] It has also drawn some criticism from the Italian newspaper Famiglia Cristiana, for the overtly caricatural interpretation by Jude Law.[22] Famiglia Cristiana also outlined how polarizing the series was among Catholics, with many fans of Sorrentino's storytelling and many who were not impressed.[23]

On American review aggregator Metacritic, it has a rating of 69, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[24] The show also has a 73% rating from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes,[25] an 8.5 on IMDb,[26] and a 9.5 on TV.com.[27] Jude Law's performance has been praised by critics.[28]

Audience viewership

In Italy, it drew the highest rating ever for the pay TV SKY. With 953,000 viewers, it beat the initial release of Gomorrah and the Italian release of Game of Thrones.[22][22][29]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wagmeister, Elizabeth (28 July 2015). "Diane Keaton to Star Opposite Jude Law in HBO and Sky Series 'The Young Pope'". Variety. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  2. ^ Anderson, Ariston (20 October 2016). "'The Young Pope' Producers Confirm Second Season of Show". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Vivarelli, Nick (4 August 2015). "Paolo Sorrentino's 'Young Pope' Rounds Out Cast With James Cromwell And Slew Of Top International Talent". Variety. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b Vivarelli, Nick (22 October 2016). "Paolo Sorrentino's 'The Young Pope' Debuts to Stellar Ratings in Italy". Variety. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  5. ^ a b Buonocore, Mattia (29 October 2016). "Ascolti Sky - Venerdì 28 October 2016. Crolla The Young Pope (517.000 spettatori cumulati)". DavideMaggio.it (in Italian). Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  6. ^ a b Buonocore, Mattia (5 November 2016). "Ascolti Sky - Venerdì 4 novembre 2016. In 508 mila per The Young Pope". DavideMaggio.it (in Italian). Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  7. ^ a b Buonocore, Mattia (12 November 2016). "Ascolti Sky - Venerdì 11 novembre 2016. The Young Pope si ferma a 490.000 spettatori cumulati". DavideMaggio.it (in Italian). Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  8. ^ a b Stefanelli, Stefania (19 November 2016). "Ascolti Sky - Venerdì 18 novembre 2016. The Young Pope chiude con 550.000 spettatori cumulati". DavideMaggio.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  9. ^ "The Young Pope di Paolo Sorrentino evento speciale della Mostra di Venezia 2016". Film.it. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  10. ^ a b Cuomo, Antonio (7 August 2015). "The Young Pope: Paolo Sorrentino e Jude Law tra provocazioni e contraddizioni del loro giovane Papa". movieplayer.it (in Italian). Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  11. ^ a b c "The Young Pope arriva su Sky. Sorrentino già prepara la seconda stagione". affaritaliani.it (in Italian). 10 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  12. ^ "The Young Pope: il pressbook della serie in PDF - Terza parte" (pdf). skyatlantic.sky.it (in Italian). 10 October 2016. p. 16. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  13. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (28 July 2015). "Diane Keaton to Star Opposite Jude Law in HBO and Sky Series 'The Young Pope'". Variety. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  14. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (4 August 2015). "Paolo Sorrentino's 'Young Pope' Rounds Out Cast With James Cromwell And Slew Of Top International Talent". Variety. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  15. ^ a b "«The Young Pope», Paolo Sorrentino racconta come è nata la fiction di Sky". TV Sorrisi e Canzoni (in Italian). 17 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  16. ^ "Venezia, in piazza San Marco le riprese di "The Young Pope". FOTO". Sky TG24 (in Italian). 12 January 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  17. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (3 September 2016). "'The Young Pope' Trailer: Jude Law is a Contradiction, And God – Venice". Deadline.com. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  18. ^ Petski, Denise (1 November 2016). "'The Young Pope' Gets Premiere Date On HBO". Deadline.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  19. ^ Mangan, Lucy (27 October 2016). "The Young Pope review – fantastically anxiety-inducing viewing for lapsed Catholics". The Guardian.
  20. ^ "The Young Pope is a hit with Catholics – so why is Pope Francis so silent about it?". Independent. 4 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Si è chiuso "The Young Pope", abbiamo fatto un bilancio". La Stampa (in Italian).
  22. ^ a b c Vivarelli, Nick (22 October 2016). "Paolo Sorrentino's 'The Young Pope' Debuts to Stellar Ratings in Italy". Variety.
  23. ^ "The Young Pope: perché piace e perché no". Famiglia Christiana (in Italian).
  24. ^ "Critic Reviews for the Young Pope Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  25. ^ "The Young Pope: Miniseries". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  26. ^ "The Young Pope". 15 January 2017 – via IMDb.
  27. ^ TV.com. "The Young Pope".
  28. ^ "The Young Pope: Jude Law convinces as a very modern pontiff".
  29. ^ "'The Young Pope' da record, + 45% di 'Gomorra' nella prima puntata". 22 October 2016.
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