After casting Jude Law in the title role as a young conservative American pontiff, and Diane Keaton as a nun, the cast for Paolo Sorrentino-directed TV series “The Young Pope” has been rounded out with a slew of top international talent. Joining the three-way Sky, HBO and Canal Plus papal production as prelates are:
James Cromwell, who will play Cardinal Michael Spencer, who is Lenny’s mentor; Silvio Orlando, a regular in Nanni Moretti movies, who is set for the role of Cardinal Voiello, the Secretary of State; and Scott Shepherd, who will play Cardinal Dussolier, from South America.
Cecile de France will play Sofia, who is in charge of marketing in the Vatican City; while Javier Camara is set to play Cardinal Gutierrez, the Master of Ceremonies of the Vatican City. Ludivine Sagnier (“Swimming Pool”) (pictured) will play Esther, the wife of a Swiss guard, and Italian theatre actor Toni Bertorelli has been cast as Cardinal Caltanissetta. Additional cast members include: Guy Boyd, Andre Gregory, Sebastian Roche, Marcello Romolo, Ignazio Oliva, Vladimir Bibic and Nadie Kammalaweera.
Per the press notes “The Young Pope” tells the controversial story of the beginning of the pontificate of Pius XIII, born Lenny Belardo. “A complex and conflicted character, so conservative in his choices as to border on obscurantism, yet full of compassion towards the weak and poor. He is a man of great power who is stubbornly resistant to the Vatican courtiers, unconcerned with the implications to his authority. During the series, Belardo will face losing those closest to him and the constant fear of being abandoned, even by his God. He is however not afraid of undertaking the millennial mission of defending that same God and the world representing Him.”