A Movie Is Being Made About Prince Andrew’s Disastrous BBC Interview, And It Could Possibly Star Hugh Grant
In November 2019, Prince Andrew agreed to go on television and speak about his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, and the allegations of sexual assault made against him by Virginia Giuffre. It was a mess. An embarrassment. Saturday Night Live couldn’t have written a joke better than the sight of Andrew shifting awkwardly in his chair while claiming he clacks the intrinsic human ability to sweat. And once that interview was over, Andrew probably breathed out a sigh of relief knowing he’d never have to relive that awkward 58-minute nightmare ever again. Wrong! That interview is reportedly making its way from the small screen to the big screen and is being turned into a movie and Hugh Grant is on the wish list to play Andrew.
According to Deadline, the film will be called Scoop and is being written by British screenwriter Peter Moffat (who most recently wrote and produced the Showtime series Your Honor), and will be all about how BBC’s Newsnight program obtained that infamous interview, considering members of the Royal Family don’t often grant interviews like that. And they certainly don’t rush to jump in front of a television news camera when they’ve been accused of heinous acts against a minor. I’m getting a major Frost/Nixon vibe from this project.
The car-crash interview had such an impact that the Duke of York was banished from royal duties. He was notably in absentia during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee festivities last month.
Moffat and [producer HIlary] Salmon both confirmed the news today, telling Deadline that production will be set up quickly. They intend for shooting to begin in November. A director has not been assigned, nor has casting begun, though pitches have been made to selected agents. ”The reaction is always the same, ‘Oh, wow,’” Salmon said.
“How was it that he decided it was a good idea to do a great big long interview with Emily Maitlis on the BBC?,” Moffat asked incredulously, as he reflected on the Duke’s arrogance, ignorance and his charm, which he said “quite often covers up for the bad stuff, that’s what I think.”
Sources say that Hugh Grant is one of the producer’s top choices to play Andrew. But I’m really more invested in who will be cast as the interviewer, Emily Maitlis. She might be a hair too old, but Edie Falco better grab a round brush and get on the phone with her agent! And despite the fact that Hugh Grant is about 100 million percent more likable and 200 percent less evil than Prince Andrew, the casting would make sense. Hugh Grant can do a posh British accent. He’s only one year younger than Prince Andrew. You might think Hugh Grant is way too attractive to play Queen Elizabeth’s favorite son, but Hugh recently claimed he believes he’s “too ugly” to show his face in another rom-com, so a serious biopic about an alleged pedo with very strong Windsor family genes might be right up his alley.
Pics: INSTARimages, BBC