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Ridley Scott to Bring The Vatican to Showtime

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http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=98295
Source: Showtime
December 20, 2012


Showtime announced today that they've ordered their first pilot for 2013. "The Vactican" is described as being a provocative contemporary genre thriller about spirituality, power and politics – set against the modern-day political machinations within the Catholic church. Ridley Scott is attached to direct the pilot.

The series will explore the relationships and rivalries as well as the mysteries and miracles behind one of the world's most hidden institutions. Two–time Oscar nominee (Quiz Show, Donnie Brasco) and three-time Emmy nominee ("House M.D.") Paul Attanasio wrote the hour-long script.

"The Vatican" will begin production in 2013 and is being produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with Showtime for series consideration. Attanasio, Scott, and David Zucker (The Good Wife) will serve as executive producers.

Could be interesting if it's not too agenda driven and is aiming to be entertaining TV first and foremost.
 
I don't know how it couldn't be agenda driven--it's the Vatican. Debates about homosexuality and birth control will undoubtedly be involved in the plot. There will probably be some kind of story arc involving pederasty.

The only way to avoid this would be to make it a wacky comedy like Veep.
 
http://www.deadline.com/tag/vatican/
Matthew Goode (A Single Man) has been cast in Vatican, Showtime’s drama pilot from Paul Attanasio, Sony Pictures TV and Scott Free. Directed by Ridley Scott, Vatican is described as a provocative contemporary genre thriller about spirituality, power and politics set against the modern-day political machinations within the Catholic church. Goode will play Papal Secretary Bernd Koch, the current Pope’s closest confidante, giving him a very powerful perch within the inner-circle of the Vatican.
Kyle Chandler to Star In Showtime’s ‘Vatican’ Pilot From Paul Attanasio And Ridley Scott
By NELLIE ANDREEVA

He has been one of the most wanted men for television series for the past two years. After passing on dozens of pilots, Kyle Chandler has finally picked his follow-up to Friday Night Lights, which won him an Emmy. Chandler is set as the lead in Vatican, Showtime‘s high-profile drama pilot from Oscar nominees Paul Attanasio and Ridley Scott. Also joining the pilot, written by Attanasio and to be directed by Scott in his pilot directing debut, is German actor Sebastian Koch (The Lives Of Others). They join previously cast Matthew Goode. Vatican reunites Chandler with Showtime entertainment president David Nevins, who as president of Imagine TV executive produced the critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights.

Said to evoke The Sopranos and Upstairs, Downstairs, Vatican is described as a provocative contemporary genre thriller about spirituality, power and politics set against the modern-day political machinations within the Catholic church. Chandler will play Cardinal Thomas Duffy, the charismatic yet enigmatic Archbishop of New York, whose progressive leanings (he has ordained a woman) excite some and alarm others within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Koch will play Cardinal Marco Malerba, the Vatican’s Secretary of State who is informally known as the “dark prince of the Curia” for his proven abilities to ruthlessly wield power within the Church hierarchy. Goode plays Papal Secretary Bernd Koch. “Kyle Chandler is one of the most talented and sought-after actors working today, and was a fantastic creative partner through five seasons of Friday Night Lights,“ said Nevins. “With Kyle, Matthew Goode and Sebastian Koch, Ridley and Paul have put together a powerhouse cast to anchor this incredibly timely show.” The Vatican, produced by Sony Pictures TV in association with Showtime and Scott Free, is set to begin production in April.

Since Friday Night Lights ended its run, Chandler has been focused on features. He is in two films nominated for Best Picture: Argo and Zero Dark Thirty; he shared in Argo‘s best ensemble cast win at the SAG Awards last month. This year, he was out in Broken City and also co-stars in the upcoming The Wolf Of Wall Street and the untitled Terrence Malick project. Chandler is with Gersh and Brillstein Entertainment. Koch is currently seen in A Good Day To Die Hard.
Nice cast so far. Very nice indeed. :up:
 
http://www.deadline.com/2013/12/showtime-pilot-the-vatican-not-moving-forward/
Showtime Pilot ‘The Vatican’ Not Moving Forward
By NELLIE ANDREEVA

With the clock running out on cast options, Showtime has formally made the decision not to proceed with high profile drama pilot The Vatican. The move had been widely expected as, by most accounts, the pilot didn’t come in as strong as everyone expected given its pedigree. Written by Paul Attanasio, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Kyle Chandler, The Vatican was described as a provocative contemporary genre thriller about spirituality, power and politics set against the modern-day political machinations within the Catholic church. While it is not going forward, I hear Showtime brass is high on its other two pilots, drama The Affair and Philip Seymour Hoffman-starring comedy Happyish (formerly Trending Down), with series pickup decisions pending. Showtime also has upcoming direct-to-series genre drama Penny Dreadful. The network can be very picky in its series choices because of its strong track record, with all new scripted shows under entertainment president David Nevins launching successfully, including Homeland, House Of Lies, Ray Donovan and Masters Of Sex.
Ridley Scott directing his first pilot, and you say no, Showtime? :argh:
 

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