Sky composes Amadeus drama
FIRST LOOK: Will Sharpe, Paul Bettany and Gabrielle Creevy star in Amadeus, a five-part drama that reimagines the meteoric rise and mythic downfall of one of history’s greatest composers. It is due to air later this year on Sky.
Sharpe (Giri/Haji) plays Wolfgang ‘Amadeus’ Mozart, with Bettany (WandaVision) as envious court composer Antonio Salieri and Creevy (In My Skin) as Constanze Weber, Mozart’s fiercely loyal wife.
When 25-year-old Amadeus (top image) arrives in bustling 18th Century Vienna, no longer a child prodigy and craving creative freedom, his world collides with two pivotal figures: his fiercely loyal future wife, Constanze Weber, and devoutly religious court composer, Antonio Salieri.
As Amadeus’ brilliance continues to flourish in spite of his personal demons, a questionable reputation and scepticism from the conservative court, Salieri becomes increasingly tormented by this apparent divine gift. Amadeus is a threat to all that he holds dear in life: his talent, his reputation, even his faith in God, Salieri vows to bring him down. What begins as professional rivalry turns into a deeply personal obsession spanning 30 years, culminating in a murder confession and a desperate attempt to entwine himself with Mozart’s legacy forever.
The cast also includes Rory Kinnear as Emperor Joseph, Lucy Cohu as Cecilia Weber, Jonathan Aris as Leopold Mozart, Ényì Okoronkwo as Da Ponte, Jessica Alexander as Katerina, Hugh Sachs as Von Strack, Paul Bazely as Von Swieten, Rupert Vansittart as Rosenberg, Anastasia Martin as Aloysia Weber, Nancy Farino as Josepha Weber, Olivia-Mai Barrett as Sophie Weber and Viola Prettejohn as Princess Elizabeth and Jyuddah Jaymes as Franz Süssmayr.
Amadeus is based on Peter Shaffer’s stage play and adapted by Joe Barton (Black Doves).
It is produced by Two Cities Television in association with Sky Studios. Megan Spanjian is executive producer for Sky Studios. Michael Jackson (Patrick Melrose) and Stephen Wright (Blue Lights) are executive producers for Two Cities Television. The series executive producer is John Griffin.
Julian Farino (Giri/Haji) and Alice Seabright (Chloe, Sex Education) are directing. Barton, Sharpe, Bettany and Farino are also executive producers. Seabright is a co-executive producer. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handles international sales of the series.
Amadeus will launch on Sky and streaming service Now later this year.
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