Hot priest-turned-hot criminal: Fleabag's Andrew Scott to star in Showtime's Ripley
Aux Features Television
If the name Andrew Scott fails to ring any bells, then The Priest From Fleabag (or, The Hot Priest, according to an overwhelming majority) might. As the object of Fleabag’s complex desires, Priest was the latest addition to the pantheon of attractive people of the cloth. Now he’s pivoting to a different calling: famed criminal. Per a recent press release, Scott will be starring as the titular character in Showtime’s newest drama Ripley, based on the ongoing crime series from Patricia Highsmith. Steven Zaillian, whose credits include Schindler’s List and The Night Of, will both write and direct the eight-episode first season.
“We are so thrilled to have the supremely talented filmmaker, Steve Zaillian, adapt the singular saga of Tom Ripley from Patricia Highsmith’s novels as an ongoing series for Showtime,” said Gary Levine, co-president of Entertainment at Showtime Networks Inc. “With Andrew Scott, whose charisma knows no bounds, inhabiting the iconic lead role, we feel confident that this will be a special one.”
While the move from Fleabag to Ripley might inspire some double-takes, Scott did win a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as Moriarty in Sherlock, so Tom Ripley won’t exactly be the hugest leap (but it might be the most fun). In any case, Scott is having quite the streak lately: On top of his season of Fleabag cleaning up at the 2019 Emmys, he will also have a role in HBO’s long-awaited fantasy adventure, His Dark Materials.
27 Comments
That’s actually pretty solid casting for the character in the books.
Hot take: that priest ain’t that hot.
People have been saying it since the episodes first aired, so it’s probably more of a take at this point. There’s also a lot of “actually he’s abusive and controlling” takes that, presumably, are there to fill the void left by “did we tell you Jim from The Office is a terrible man” think pieces.
Seriously, I had heard that complaint before I watched it and was really surprised how wrong-headed it is. He’s flawed and more than a little tortured, but everything they do, they do to eachother mutually. It’s sort of the point.
Well you were watching the show because of a character study. Many seem to think people were watching the show to look for a boyfriend.
So you’re saying I am abusing my heterosexual male privilege by not looking at it that way?
That was a joke. Just in case it wasn’t clear.
It’s just a fanbase being annoying as fuck really
I’ve felt that way about a lot of guys people go nuts over, but with him I have to say, I absolutely 110% see what they’re talking about. I loved him as Moriarty but didn’t register him at all as hot, so I think it also has a lot to do with whether that particular character resonates. I’m Irish, Catholic, and I like kind yet screwed up men so ding ding and ding.
Where’s Newt??
He is hot Moriarty, and that is his best role. He was also hot secundary villain in a pretty terrible Bond movie. And he was a hot uber driver in a mediocre Black Mirror Episode, although his acting was great. And also hot stage actor before all of that. And yeah, he is hot. And this is coming from amostly straight guy. I say mostly because I’m still single, and who knows? Maybe hot Moriarty would end up falling in love with me.
My favorites are his work fronting Faith No More and Mr. Bungle. He’s so talented.Now my joke’s out of the way, I’ll say I heard his turn as Hamlet was just astounding.
I guess he kind of looks like Mike Patton.
I don’t think he looks too much like Patton but he could pass for a relative.
No offence to Scott, but I have a different pick for Hot Moriarty:
Touché.
Brett Gelman is the hot one on the show, come on people.
Yes they’ve cast him as Dickie in this series.
I still say he’s the ideal man to play Locke Lamora should they ever adapt that.
Andrew Sc-Hot
The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of my favorite movies. Even the off casting (Damon, Paltrow) works. And Cate Blanchett is amazing in like the 3 minutes she’s in it.But it will be nice to get a more faithful adaptation.
Except that Andrew Scott turns 43 next month so his fantastic acting chops are going to have to do some heavy lifting to pull off 21 in the early episodes. Also I wonder how many episodes each book will get — it sounds like the number of seasons is TBD.
Ya ain’t heard about the digital de-aging, have ya?
His role as Moriarty in Sherlock seems like an audition now.
Every role in Sherlock was an audition.
Which is why we ain’t getting anymore Sherlock, sadly…
Ongoing?
based on the ongoing crime series from Patricia Highsmith.As in…the last book in the series was in 1991? Before Highsmith’s death in 1995? And there have been no continuations by other authors?What does “ongoing” mean here exactly?
I got a Ripley Scott notification for this?