John Malkovich Leads the Church in The New Pope Teaser

November 4, 2019

HBO has released a new teaser trailer for their upcoming drama series The New Pope, highlighting the many flaws of Pope John Paul III as he settles into his new role in the Catholic Church. Starring Oscar nominees John Malkovich and Jude Law, the series will be making its debut next year in January. Check out the video in the player below!

The New Pope is written by Paolo Sorrentino with Umberto Contarello and Stefano Bises and marks Sorrentino’s second limited series set in the world of the modern papacy. All eight episodes are being directed by Academy Award-winning director Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty, The Young Pope).

Additional stars include returning cast members from The Young Pope including Silvio Orlando, Javier Cámara, Cécile de France, Ludivine Sagnier, Maurizio Lombardi. The new cast members joining the limited series are Henry Goodman, Ulrich Thomsen, Mark Ivanir and Massimo Ghini. Sharon Stone and Marilyn Manson guest star.

An original production of SKY-HBO-CANAL+, the series is produced by Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani for Wildside and co-produced by Haut et Court TV and Mediapro.

Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, The Young Pope told the story of Lenny Belardo, aka Pius XIII, the first American Pope in history. Young and charming, his election seems to be the result of a simple yet effective media strategy on the part of the College of Cardinals. But appearances can be deceptive – above all, in the place where people have chosen the great mystery of God as the compass guiding their existence. That place is the Vatican and those people are the leaders of the Church. And Pius XIII proves to be the most mysterious and contradictory of them all. Shrewd and naïve, ironic and pedantic, primeval and cutting-edge, doubting and resolute, melancholy and ruthless, Pius XIII tries to cross the endless river of human solitude to find a God he can give to mankind. And to himself.

Jude Law starred in the title role in The Young Pope with Diane Keaton as Sister Mary, a nun from the U.S. now living in Vatican City. The cast also included Silvio Orlando, Scott Shepherd, Cécile de France, Javier Cámara, Ludivine Sagnier, Toni Bertorelli, and James Cromwell.