Alert – A Very Royal Scandal first look: New Amazon Prime series sees Michael Sheen transform into Prince Andrew while Ruth Wilson stars as journalist Emily Maitlis for ‘car crash’ interview as release date is revealed

Amazon Prime released new first-look images of upcoming drama A Very Royal Scandal on Tuesday and announced when it will drop on the streamer. 

Set to retell the story of Prince Andrew’s ‘car crash’ interview the dramatisation stars Michael Sheen as the Duke of York and Ruth Wilson as journalist Emily Maitlis.

The three part series will premiere on 19 September exclusively on Prime Video in the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand.

It comes just five months after rival streaming platform Netflix’s version, which was out on April 5.

New stills this week show the actors as they recreate the famous BBC interview which made television history when Prince Andrew spoke out about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and claimed he did not sweat.

Amazon Prime released new first-look images of upcoming drama A Very Royal Scandal on Tuesday and announced when it will drop on the streamer

Set to retell the story of Prince Andrew’s ‘car crash’ interview, the dramatisation stars Michael Sheen (L) as the Duke of York: Prince Andrew seen, right 

Michael is pictured with The Duke of York’s white hair while Ruth looks almost unrecognisable in a blonde wig. 

The upcoming series by Amazon MGM Studios will focus far more on Emily Maitlis – who serves as an executive producer, whereas Netflix’s Scoop focused on Prince Andrew. 

A spokesperson for Amazon confirmed the series will ‘follow Emily Maitlis’ professional and personal journey as a Newsnight journalist, leading up to her acclaimed interview with Prince Andrew.’

A press released added: ‘A Very Royal Scandal follows the action of Maitlis and Prince Andrew in the lead-up to the interview, the ground-breaking event itself and the many questions left in its wake that would change their lives forever.’

The first episode sees Prince Andrew attempt to declare his innocence as he finds himself at the centre of an international scandal while Newsnight presenter, Emily, does everything within her power to secure an interview with him. 

The second instalment features the interview but the meeting takes various twists and turns that neither Emily, nor the Newsnight team, could have expected. 

Finally, in the third episode Prince Andrew is left to navigate the fallout for himself, his family, and the Royal firm as Emily considers her reputation and the future of her career.

Along with Sheen and Wilson, the series will star Joanna Scanlan as Amanda Thirsk, Alex Jennings as Sir Edward Young, Éanna Hardwicke as Stewart Maclean and Claire Rushbrook as Sarah Ferguson. 

Ruth Wilson (L) will star as journalist Emily Maitlis (R)  

The actress (pictured in May) looks almost unrecognisable in a blonde wig

Michael is pictured with The Duke of York’s white hair in the new stills (seen in March 2024)

The three part series will premiere on 19 September exclusively on Prime Video in the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand

New stills this week show the actors as they recreate the famous BBC interview which made television history when Prince Andrew spoke out about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and claimed he did not sweat

The upcoming series by Amazon MGM Studios will focus far more on Emily Maitlis – who serves as an executive producer, whereas Netflix’s Scoop focused on Prince Andrew

Emily told Deadline: ”I think that probably is overplayed, overstated. This [the Amazon series] will be a very different beast. I’m sure there’s room for both’ (pictured here at The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards 2024)

Speaking of the rivalry between the Netflix and Amazon projects, Maitlis, 53, told Deadline: ‘I think that probably is overplayed, overstated. This [the Amazon series] will be a very different beast. I’m sure there’s room for both.

The former BBC presenter added that she left the team behind Scoop ‘to do their own thing because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges.

‘It says its based on a fictional account, so I think it goes into different places and it does different things [to the Amazon series].’

Netflix issued a disclaimer at the start of Scoop that said: ‘This film is based on real events – however certain elements have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.’ 

Netflix’s Scoop was based on a book of the same name by Sam McAlister and follows the BBC producer, played by Billie Piper, as she fights to secure an interview with Prince Andrew, played by Rufus Sewell, at Buckingham Palace.

Gillian Anderson plays Emily Maitlis as she pointedly questions the Duke.

Netflix’s Scoop was based on a book of the same name by Sam McAlister and follows the BBC producer, played by Billie Piper, as she fights to secure an interview with Prince Andrew, played by Rufus Sewell, at Buckingham Palace (Rufus as Prince Andrew pictured)

Gillian Anderson plays Emily Maitlis as she pointedly questions the Duke (pictured in Scoop)