The New Pope, the sequel to HBO’s The Young Pope, is set to kick off its nine episode run on January 13, 2020. The sequel to the critically acclaimed one-hour drama will air on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT, with Jude Law reprising his role Pope Pius XIII.
In addition to Jude Law, the cast includes John Malkovich and Silvio Orlando. Paolo Sorrentino created, executive produces, and directs the series. Lorenzo Mieli, Mario Gianani, Riccardo Neri, Elena Recchia, Jude Law, Caroline Benjo, Carole Scotta, Simon Arnal, Jaume Roures, Javier Méndez, Nils Hartmann, and Sonia Rovai also executive produce.
A month out from The New Pope‘s premiere, HBO has released details on the first three episodes.
The Plot:
The follow-up to 2017’s The Young Pope from Oscar-winning filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino, The New Pope dives into the inner workings of the Vatican, while exploring the very human desires, vices and fragilities of those in power and the complexities inherent in faith today.
The series picks up where The Young Pope left off, with Jude Law’s Lenny Belardo, known as Pope Pius XIII, in a coma. Following an unpredictable and mysterious turn of events, Secretary of State Voiello (Orlando) succeeds in having Sir John Brannox (Malkovich), a charming and sophisticated moderate English aristocrat, placed on the papal throne, adopting the name John Paul III.
The new pope seems ideal, but he conceals secrets and has a certain fragility, and Voiello immediately understands that it will not be easy to replace the charismatic Pius XIII. Hanging between life and death, Lenny Belardo has become a Saint, with thousands now idolizing him, fueling the contrast between fundamentalisms.
Meanwhile, the Church is under attack from external threats and scandals striking the symbols of Christianity and risking irreversibly devastating the hierarchies. As always, however, in the Vatican, nothing is what it seems. Good and evil proceed arm-in-arm towards history, and to reach the showdown, we must wait for the events to take their course.
The New Pope January 2020 Episodes:
- Episode 1: “First Episode”
Debut date: MONDAY, JAN. 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Following his sudden heart attack, Pope Pius XIII (Jude Law) lies in a coma while his followers fervently pray for a miraculous recovery. As the threat of terrorism and the potential risks of Pius’s idolatry loom, Secretary of State Cardinal Voiello (Silvio Orlando) is pressured to bring a new pope to power and, with the conclave at a deadlock, makes a hasty move that throws the Church into even greater chaos.
Written by Paolo Sorrentino, Umberto Contrarello and Stefano Bises; directed by Paolo Sorrentino. - Episode 2: “Second Episode”
Debut date: MONDAY, JAN. 20 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
As rumors swirl about the Church’s role in a sudden death, Voiello (Silvio Orlando), Gutierrez (Javier Cámara), Assente (Maurizio Lombardi), Aguirre (Ramon Garcia) and Sofia (Cécile de France) travel to the UK to the grand estate of Sir John Brannox (John Malkovich), hoping to convince him to return with them to the Vatican and accept the holiest of roles. An alluring but sensitive man who carries with him an unshakeable family tragedy, Brannox is harder to sway than expected, but a determined Voiello presses ahead. Meanwhile, Ester (Ludivine Sagnier) shares her son’s story with the press to makes ends meet.
Written by Paolo Sorrentino, Umberto Contrarello and Stefano Bises; directed by Paolo Sorrentino. - Episode 3: “Third Episode”
Debut date: MONDAY, JAN. 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Still considering the offer of Supreme Pontiff, Brannox (John Malkovich) reflects on his past, while Voiello (Silvio Orlando) makes clear his commitment to his mission’s success. After being elected pope and taking the name “John Paul III,” Brannox preaches the importance of family, truth and love in his first public homily and to the cardinals. Ester (Ludivine Sagnier) bonds with Fabiano (Alessandro Riceci), a widower and new member of the parish, who offers an unusual solution to her money woes. The Abbess of St. Therese (Kiruna Stamell) and an anguished Sister Lisette (Nora Waldstatten) are disheartened when their financial pleas fall on deaf ears.
Written by Paolo Sorrentino Umberto Contrarello and Stefano Bises; directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
