Yahoo Movies Who stars in Scoop on Netflix? Meet the cast of Prince Andrew drama
The film stars Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew and Gillian Anderson as journalist Emily Maitlis
Netflix is dramatising the scandal that rocked the Royal Family involving Prince Andrew.
The streamer's new film, titled Scoop, follows the quest to make a Newsnight interview happen in 2019 after the shamed prince was hit with allegations of sex trafficking with Jeffrey Epstein.
The accusations and interview led to Prince Andrew stepping away from his royal duties and paying a financial settlement to his alleged victim, Virginia Giuffre, who was 17 at the time of the alleged incident.
Read more: Netflix’s Scoop crew mistook Billie Piper for BBC Newsnight producer
It was the interview that gripped the nation, so here is everything you need to know about the film adapting it for the small screen.
How can I watch Scoop?
Scoop is streaming on Netflix from today, Friday, 5 April. The drama has been written by Peter Moffat and Geoff Bussetil, and directed by Philip Martin, who previously worked on The Crown.
The film is based on ex-Newsnight producer Sam McAlister's memoir Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC's Most Shocking Interview.
It explores how the BBC obtained the bombshell interview with Prince Andrew, which saw Maitlis question his friendship with convicted sex offender Epstein.
The Newsnight interview featured many revealing moments, not least Prince Andrew's now infamous account of being at a Pizza Express.
Who stars in Scoop?
Netflix's movie stars Rufus Sewell and Gillian Anderson as Prince Andrew and Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis, respectively.
The film also has an A-list supporting cast that includes Billie Piper as McAlister, Keeley Hawes as Prince Andrew's private secretary Amanda Thirsk, and Romola Garai as Newsnight editor Esme Wren.
Speaking about playing Maitlis, Anderson said playing the part was "scary."
"It was just too scary to play Emily Maitlis, because she's still living, because she's so formidable, because people know her so well," The X Files star told the BBC. "I thought I probably do have to do it because I'm so scared of it."
What are the reviews like?
As Scoop finally hits Netflix, critics have begun sharing their thoughts on a Royal drama that's very much free of any The Crown-esque Monarchy love.
Early reviews of the streamer's dramatisation of this now-infamous interview are largely positive, with The Independent calling it "immaculately recreated" but a project that still leaves audiences with unanswered questions.
Meanwhile, The Telegraph called its star Sewell a "revelation" as Prince Andrew, adding that its director "plays everything right to the cusp – where you clamp hand to mouth, aghast at remembering that this trainwreck actually happened."
The Guardian was less enamoured, saying "the drama is smothered by its own overwhelming sense of importance." Read our full review round-up below:
The Independent: Prince Andrew’s infamous Newsnight interview is immaculately recreated – but questions remain (4-min read)
The Guardian: Self-admiring replay of Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview (3-min read)
The Telegraph: Rufus Sewell is a revelation as Prince Andrew in Netflix drama (3-min read)
Deadline: Prince Andrew’s Nightmare 2019 BBC Interview Becomes Riveting Netflix Movie (4-min read)
Is there a trailer for Scoop?
Yes, a trailer for Scoop was released on Monday, 18 March as part of Netflix's celebration of what is coming "next on Netflix". It showed Anderson and Sewell going head-to-head, as the series explores how Newsnight came to nab the groundbreaking interview.
Watch the official trailer for Scoop:
As well as examine the interview, it showed how the tenacity of McAlister ensured that the BBC news programme was able to set up the interview in the wake of Jeffrey Epstein's arrest. And it gave viewers a closer look at Keeley Hawes and Connor Swindells' characters.
A teaser trailer was previously released on Tuesday, 13 February, it also featured narration from Piper's McAlister as she embarked on her quest to snap up the interview for Newsnight.
Watch the teaser for Scoop:
Scoop is streaming on Netflix now
