Rivals (TV series)
Rivals is an upcoming television series made for Disney+. It is an adaptation of the 1988 Jilly Cooper novel of the same name. It is set to star an ensemble cast including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, Lisa McGrillis, Alex Hassell, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer.
| Rivals | |
|---|---|
| Based on | Rivals by Jilly Cooper |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Directed by | Elliot Hegarty |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Eliza Mellor |
| Production company | Happy Prince |
| Release | |
| Original network | Disney+ |
Synopsis Edit
Set in the fictional English county of Rutshire, Rupert Campbell-Black (Hassell) and Lord Tony Baddingham (Tennant) have a rivalry that seeps into the world of Corinium television station.[1]
Cast Edit
- Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black
- David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham
- Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara
- Victoria Smurfit as Maud O'Hara
- Bella Maclean as Taggie O'Hara
- Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O'Hara
- Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook
- Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker
- Oliver Chris as James Vereker
- Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
- Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones
- Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham
- Luke Pasqualino as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham
- Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton
- Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton
- Lara Peake as Daysee Butler
- Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson
- Maggie Steed as Lady Gosling
- David Calder as Fergus Penney
- Hubert Burton as Gerald Middleton
- Luke S Roberts as Unnamed Character
Production Edit
In August 2022 it was reported that Disney+ were planning an eight-part adaptation of the Jilly Cooper novel Rivals.[2] Dominic Treadwell-Collins, is on the writing and production team. Jilly Cooper, and Felicity Blunt, Cooper’s literary agent, are serving as executive producer on the show.[3][4] It has been reported that the 1980s novel would be given as “ contemporary skew”.[5]
The lead director is Elliot Hegarty who is also credited as executive producer on episodes 1-3. Eliza Mellor is series producer. The project is produced by Happy Prince with Alexander Lamb, Laura Wade, and Lee Mason also executive producers. Wade is also co-writer with Treadwell-Collins and a writers room that includes Sophie Goodhart, Marek Horn, Mimi Hare & Clare Naylor, Dare Aiyegbayo, Kefi Chadwick, Tray Agyeman, and Sorcha Kurien Walsh.[6]
Casting Edit
Casting in lead roles were announced in March 2023, with David Tennant, Danny Dyer, Katherine Parkinson & Alex Hassell amongst those cast.[7] That same month, Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner were added to the cast.[8] In May 2023, the cast was rounded out with the likes of Lara Peake and David Calder revealed to be in the cast.[9]
Filming Edit
The series became the first production to use ‘TBY2’, a new facility at The Bottle Yard Studios in Hengrove, Bristol.[10] Filming also took place in Gloucestershire in March 2023.[11]
References Edit
- ^ Cormack, Morgan (21 March 2023). "David Tennant and Aidan Turner to star in Jilly Cooper adaptation Rivals". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Shaffi, Sarah (25 August 2022). "Jilly Cooper bestseller Rivals set for eight-part TV adaptation". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Rose, Hilary (22 March 2022). "Can Jilly Cooper's Rivals survive a 21st-century makeover?". The Times. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Elder, Lucy (21 March 2023). "Hunt for Rupert Campbell-Black concludes! Cast confirmed for Jilly Cooper's Rivals". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ De Semelyan, Phil (22 March 2023). "People are losing their minds over Disney's 'Rivals' cast". Time Out. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "STAR-STUDDED "RIVALS" CAST UNVEILED FOR DISNEY+". Disney.co.uk. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Goldbart, Max; Petski, Denise (21 March 2023). "David Tennant, Danny Dyer, Aidan Turner & Alex Hassell Board Disney+'s Jilly Cooper Adaptation 'Rivals'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner star in adaptation of racy Jilly Cooper novel". Independent.ie. 21 March 2023.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (15 May 2023). "Jilly Cooper's 'Rivals': Power Packed British Cast Join David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner and Danny Dyer on Disney+ Show (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Streeting, Louise (23 March 2023). "Disney+ confirms David Tennant and Danny Dyer for new series being filmed in Bristol". Bristol Post. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Adam, Bertie (20 March 2022). "Rivals: Danny Dyer and David Tennant spotted in Gloucestershire filming new Disney+ series". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
External links Edit
- Rivals at IMDb