Sky’s “Amadeus” lands on Starz May, with Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany leading Mozart’s intense rivalry story.
Sky’s limited series Amadeus is finally making its way to American audiences. The show hits Starz on Friday, May 8.
Amadeus is a five-part period drama based on Peter Shaffer’s award-winning 1979 play. Joe Barton — the guy behind Black Doves and Giri/Haji — wrote the adaptation.
Will Sharpe plays the iconic musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Paul Bettany steps in as Salieri, the envious court composer who can’t stand watching Mozart shine. Gabrielle Creevy plays Mozart’s devoted wife, Constanze Weber.
It’s 18th century Vienna. Mozart is 25, no longer a child prodigy, and desperately craving creative freedom. When he lands in the city, two people change everything — his future wife Constanze, and the deeply religious court composer Salieri.
As Mozart’s brilliance keeps growing despite his personal demons, a questionable reputation, and skepticism from the conservative court, Salieri starts losing it. This isn’t just professional jealousy anymore — Mozart threatens everything Salieri cares about: his talent, his reputation, even his faith in God. Salieri makes it his mission to take Mozart down.
What starts as a rivalry turns into a 30-year obsession that ends with a murder confession and a desperate attempt to tie himself to Mozart’s legacy forever.
The supporting cast is stacked. Rory Kinnear plays Emperor Joseph, Lucy Cohu is Cecilia Weber, Jonathan Aris plays Leopold Mozart, and Ényì Okoronkwo appears as Da Ponte. Jessica Alexander plays Katerina, Hugh Sachs is Von Strack, Paul Bazely is Von Swieten, and Rupert Vansittart plays Rosenberg.
Rounding out the cast are Anastasia Martin as Aloysia Weber, Nancy Farino as Josepha Weber, Olivia-Mai Barrett as Sophie Weber, Viola Prettejohn as Princess Elizabeth, and Jyuddah Jaymes as Franz Süssmayr.
The show originally comes from British broadcaster Sky. Back in January, Starz locked in the U.S. rights through a deal with NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution, which handles international sales on Sky’s behalf.
Two Cities Television (part of STV Studios) produced the series alongside Sky Studios. Executive producers are John Griffin and Rupert Lord. Megan Spanjian and Paul Gilbert serve as executive producers for Sky, while Michael Jackson and Stephen Wright serve as executive producers for Two Cities Television. Barton, Sharpe, Bettany and Farino also serve as executive producers.
Julian Farino (Giri/Haji) and Alice Seabright (Chloe, Sex Education) directed. Seabright also serves as co-executive producer. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution is managing international sales.
Do you think this new “Amadeus” series will live up to the hype and do justice to Mozart’s story? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
