Prince Andrew nightmare: Netflix announces cast ahead of bombshell film depicting royal's career-ending interview

Prince Andrew is facing a nightmare scenario as Netflix presses ahead with plans to create a film depicting the royal's career-ending interview with Emily Maitlis.

The streaming giant today announced the cast for the film, including the actors that will play the Duke of York and Maitlis.

Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper and Rufus Sewell will be the leading actors in a film based on chapters from former BBC producer Sam McAlister's memoir.

Anderson will play interviewer Emily Maitlis, whilst Rufus has been cast in the role of Prince Andrew.

Gillian Anderson will play former BBC journalist Emily Maitlis
Ian West

McAlister will be played by Piper, with the former producer sharing her delight at the casting.

She said: "Watching Billie Piper, one of my favourite actresses, play 'me' will be a pinch myself moment and I'm truly thrilled to be involved in this film."

Emmy and BAFTA-winning director Philip Martin outlined his ambition to portray to give Netflix viewers an insightful look behind the scenes of the infamous 2019 BBC Newsnight interview.

He said: "Up-tempo, immersive and cinematic, I want to put the audience inside the breathtaking sequence of events that led to the interview with Prince Andrew - to tell a story about a search for answers, in a world of speculation and varying recollections.

"It's a film about power, privilege and differing perspectives and how - whether in glittering palaces or hi-tech newsrooms - we judge what's true."

The film, which is titled Scoop, is billed as "the inside track of the women that broke through the Buckingham Palace establishment to secure the scoop of the decade... spotlighting the journalists whose tenacity and guts broke through the highest of ceilings".

In 2019, Prince Andrew was extensively interviewed by Maitlis on his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York was also questioned on a photograph showing him alongside Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked by Epstein.

Rufus Sewell has been cast as Prince Andrew in the Netflix film
Ian West

Giuffre sued the Queen's second son for sexual abuse, saying Andrew had sex with her when she was 17.

In March 2022, Prince Andrew paid a financial settlement to his accuser Giuffre - formally ending a civil case brought against him in the US.

The Duke of York's settlement was not an admission of guilt to the accusations.