FMI elects The Young Pope

FremantleMedia International (FMI) has secured exclusive international distribution rights to a forthcoming drama about a fictional pope, starring Oscar-nominated actor Jude Law.

Jude Law

The Young Pope follows the controversial story of the beginning of Pius XIII’s pontificate. He is billed as a “complex and conflicted character” who is prone to conservative choices but also full of compassion towards the weak and poor.

FMI has taken the exclusive international distribution rights (outside of partner territories) for the eight-episode drama, coproduced by HBO, Sky and French broadcaster Canal+.

Jens Richter, FMI’s CEO, said “the series has all of the ingredients to become a hallmark drama.”

It marks the first coproduction between European satcaster Sky and US premium cablenet HBO, though the two have a long-standing content deal that sees shows such as Boardwalk Empire air on the Sky Atlantic channel in the UK.

The series is being produced by Italy-based Wildside and coproduced by France’s Haut et Court TV. Exec producers for Wildside are Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani, together with John Lyons. Caroline Benjo, Carole Scotta and Simon Arnal are exec producing for Haut et Court TV.

Production of The Young Pope will begin this summer and will continue into 2016, filming predominantly in Italy as well as locations in the US, Africa and Puerto Rico.

All eight episodes will be directed by Paulo Sorrentino, who will write in collaboration with Tony Grisoni, Umberto Contarello and Stefano Rulli.