The former Sherlock star takes on the role of Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley.

Updated 23/01/23: Netflix have dropped an atmospheric teaser.

Ahead of an April release, Netflix have dropped a first glimpse of Andrew Scott (Sherlock, SPECTRE) in action as Tom Ripley.

The show, adapting Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, follows its eponymous antihero to Italy as he becomes entwined in the life of Dicky Greenleaf…

Written and directed by Stephen Zallian, there’s no doubt about the name of the central character, is there?

If successful, Zallian has plans to adapt all five of Highsmith’s novels featuring the character.

The first season runs for eight episodes which land on April 4th, 2024.

Original article (of 13/12/23) continues…

Ripley – first images of Andrew Scott

For many, Andrew Scott is indelibly burnt into memory as Moriarty. Or Fleabag’s “hot priest”.

Now, the actor has a new project with Netflix. He’s taking the title role in Ripley, a new limited series based on the novels by Patricia Highsmith.

Ripley comes from writer. director and executive producer Steve Zaillian (The Irishman, The Night Of), and promises to immerse us in a suspense-filled journey set in the ’60s.

As Tom Ripley, Scott plays a roguish grifter who is hired by a wealthy industrialist to travel to Italy to try to convince the man’s dilettante son, Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn), to return home. However, what follows is a complex tale of deceit, fraud, and murder.

The series also stars Dakota Fanning (The Equalizer) as Marge Sherwood, Dickie’s girlfriend, who suspects Tom’s darker motives.

According to Bleeding Cool, Steve Zaillian has plans to adapt all five of Highsmith’s novels, devoting a season to each. The first, The Talented Mr. Ripley, has been brought to the screen a number of times, notably in 1999, directed by Anthony Minghella and with Matt Damon in the title role.

Zaillian executive produces with Garrett Basch, Guymon Casady, Ben Forkner and Sharon Levy. Plus, Philipp Keel of Diogenes (Highsmith’s Zurich-based publisher and agency.) Andrew Scott is also a producer on the show.

• Ripley is co-produced by Showtime and Endemol Shine North America in association with Entertainment 360 and Filmrights. The series filmed in both Italy and New York, and lands on Netflix in 2024. We’ll keep you posted.