Jude Law Is Eccentric 'Young Pope' in First Teaser of New Series
TV

Law plays Lenny Belardo a.k.a. Pius XIII, 'a hard-line conservative American pontiff recruited by a Vatican fed up with liberals.'

AceShowbiz - Sky Atlantic has debuted the first teaser of its new series "The Young Pope". Boasting the appearance of two-time Academy Award nominee Jude Law in the lead role, the series follows the titular character, Lenny Belardo a.k.a. Pius XIII, who is the first American Pope in history.

The less-than-one-minute footage depicts Pius XIII as rather eccentric as he's seen smoking, praying underwater and kneeling on the ground at what looks like a parking lot. The video also offers a glimpse of the beginning of his pontificate and his first day in office.

From Italian Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino, the drama centers on the controversial story of the beginning of Pius XIII's pontificate. His election might seem the result of a simple and effective media strategy by the College of Cardinals but, as we know, appearances can be deceptive. The pope is described as "shrewd and naive, old-fashioned and very modern, doubtful and resolute, ironic, pedantic, hurt and ruthless."

Sorrentino has said the show would capture "the inner struggle between the huge responsibility of the Head of the Catholic Church and the miseries of the simple man that fate (or the Holy Spirit) chose as Pontiff. Finally, how to handle and manipulate power in a state whose dogma and moral imperative is the renunciation of power and selfless love towards one's neighbor."

The show will air on Sky Atlantic in the U.K., on HBO in the U.S., and on Canal Plus in France. It is expected to debut later this year. Diane Keaton, James Cromwell and Scott Shepherd are also starring.

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