Prince Andrew Bombshell’s BBC Interview Will Become A Hot Movie; Hugh Grant realized he was shortlisted to portray the disgraced royal in “Scoop”

Exclusive: The story of how the BBC got an interview with Prince Andrew about his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will be turned into a film titled ladle, And Hugh Grant is one of the unconfirmed names in the cast to play the disgraced royal, Deadline has learned.

Recognized Dear Peter Moffat Screenwriter to write the first Screenplay for The Lighthouse Film & TV production company launched two years ago by Hilary Salmon, Redford Neville and Nick Betts with the independent British television company Voltage TV.

The news should be met with little amusement from Andrew’s mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family. Buckingham Palace hoped that when it came to wandering royalty, the less seen and heard, the better.

The car accident interview made such an impact that the Duke of York was removed from his royal duties. He was notably absent during the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations last month.

Moffat and Salmon confirmed the news today, telling Deadline that production will ramp up rapidly. Filming is expected to begin in November. A director has not yet been named and casting has not yet begun, although proposals have been made for selected agents. “The reaction is always the same, ‘Oh wow’,” Salmon said.

When pressed on casting, Salmon said, “We definitely have ideas,” but stressed that “no one is attacked” and did not comment on reports that Grant is in the mix.

Moffat explained it the first it’s “like BBC news night The team got the scoop and then the actual shots, “adding,” That’s another question about ‘why did you agree to do it?’

“Why did you decide it was a good idea to do a great interview with Emily Maitley on the BBC?” Moffat asked incredulously as he thought of the Duke’s arrogance, ignorance and fascination with what he had said. Often it covers evil, I think. “

the first will be based Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews By Sam McAllister, ex news night A Salmon producer said it picked up almost immediately.

Packed with juicy and jaw-dropping details, McAllister recounts how Maitlis, Esme Ren, ex news night Editor, now with Channel 4, and Stuart McLean, then deputy director news nightNow his publisher has secured an interview with the Duke of York which will air in November 2019, two months after Epstein was found dead in his cell.

Salmon and Moffat have already collaborated hidden, Silk, criminal law and on the current AMC show 61st Street, with Courtney B. Vance, Aujanu Ellis and Tosin Cole act. The second season is over.

After Maitli news nightThe main trial examined the duke’s relationship with Epstein and his landlord Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted last year of child sex trafficking and other crimes. During the interview, Prince said he regretted continuing to work with Epstein after the financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting sex from a minor. However, the fact that he did not apologize to Epstein’s victims caused a stir and made headlines around the world. “Living in a bubble,” Salmon said.

The story Moffat wants to tell is how “Sam and those two extraordinary women, Emily and Esme, conducted the interview under real stress and pressure, because once agreed, it was done in secret. Hardly anyone in the BBC knew this for fear of a leak, “she said.

He added: “What Andrew was going to say would be very relevant in court later … a real responsibility, especially for Epstein’s female victims. This was our only chance to see what Andrew Epstein had to say. The seriousness with which Emily, Esme and Sam were taking her was certainly correct.

Admitting that it “sounds a bit silly,” Moffat noted that behind-the-scenes activities involved members of the BBC team and the Duke’s family, including his personal secretary Amanda Thirske and her daughter, Princess Beatrice, who accompanied his father at the meeting. . The BBC producers are “creating a very exciting drama”.

Salmon noted sections of McAllister’s book that caused a stir when it was serialized. daily mail, and released today, July 14, shows how unconscious Duke was. “All the opportunities Emily gave him to say the right words to justify her friendship with Epstein, to say how worried he was about her,” were wasted opportunities on the Duke’s part.

Moffat added that he later heard that after the cameras stopped rolling, Maitlis repeated his offer to return to the cameras. “news nightIt couldn’t have been fairer to him, “he said.

Duke didn’t care how his performance in the room went. “He thought he was really good,” Salmon said.

The problem with the Duke is that “everyone always laughs at his jokes,” added Moffat, who added, “I think no one can stop him when he speaks, and I think he gives you both. Level of authority; you always feel in control of the time and space around you.

McAllister cites such an example in his book. Since the interview took place in Buckingham Palace’s State Room, the Duke gave sound engineers advice on how to fix things.

“He’s a guy in his 60s who’s used to everything,” Moffat said.

part news night For this, the interview will be recreated the first But actual BBC footage will not be used.

Moffat said McAllister was “very helpful”.

But when asked if Buckingham Palace courtiers were involved in the Moffat investigation, Salmon was careful to say, “We have approached a wide range of people who have been involved in behind-the-scenes interviews and are still in the process. “.

Book by Sam McAllister spoons Published by Oneworld Productions. McAllister is represented by Jen Thomas at United Agents, who negotiated the rights to the film.