Jude Law has a big name co-star set to join him for the follow-up to HBO’s “Young Pope.”
John Malkovich has been cast to play opposite Law in director Paolo Sorrentino’s “The New Pope,” the premium cable network announced Monday.
No character details were given for Malkovich’s upcoming role.
“The New Pope” is written by Sorrentino with Umberto Contarello and Stefano Bises and marks Sorrentino’s second limited series set in the world of the modern papacy. The original series, “The Young Pope,” also created and directed by Sorrentino, debuted on Sky in October 2016 and on HBO in January 2017. Law was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture for his performance.
The follow-up limited series hails from HBO-Sky and is produced by Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani for Wildside and co-produced by Mediapro. FremantleMedia International will handle global distribution.
“The Young Pope” told the story of the beginning of Pius XIII’s pontificate. Previously known as Lenny Belardo (Law), he is a complex and conflicted character full of compassion towards the weak and poor. During the series, he faced the fear of being abandoned, even by God. However, he is not afraid to defend that same God and the world representing Him.
The series aired its final episode in November 2016 and HBO greenlit “The New Pope” last May.
Production on “The New Pope” is set to begin in Italy in November.