Recently,Disney+has been expanding its offerings beyond the usual franchise audiences expect. In fact, the cast of a new drama for the streamer has just been announced.Deadlineis reporting thatDavid Tennant,Alex Hassell,Aidan TurnerandDanny Dyer, will be part of an ensemble cast inRivals.
Rivalsis based on the 1988 novel of the same name byJilly Cooper. The book is part of her bestselling Rutshire Chronicles,a romance seriesthat follows the upper-class families of a fictional English county.Rivalsexplores all the “drama, excess and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite” in the cut-throatworld of British televisionof the 1980s, as the rivalry between two men hits a boiling point. Tennant will be playing Lord Tony Baddingham, the “single-mindedly ambitious and egotistical” head of “Corinium Television.” Turner will be playing Declan O’Hara, an intellectual TV presenter with a temper that gets “wooed” to leave the BBC for Corinium. Meanwhile, Dyer will be playing Freddie Jones, a self-made millionaire.
Tennant is of course best known for his time as The Doctor onDoctor Who,a show that interestingly also just found a new home on Disney+. He is also celebrated for his work on other series likeGood Omens,Broadchurch, andJessica Jones. Turner is best known for his role as Kili inThe Hobbittrilogy as well as shows likePoldarkandBeing Human. Dyer is a British actor best known for his long-standing role on the iconic British soap operaEastenders. The series will also starThe Tragedy of Macbeth’s star, Hassell,as the main character Rupert Campbell-Black, a member of parliament and a notorious womanizer who has a long-time rivalry with Tennant’s character.
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Who Else Will Star InRivals?
The rest of the cast demonstratesan ensemble filled with talent. Alongside Tennant, Turner, Hassell, and Dyer, the cast includesNafessa Williams,Bella Maclean,Katherine Parkinson,Victoria Smurfit,Claire Rushbrook,Oliver Chris,Lisa McGrillis,Emily Atack,Rufus Jones,Luke Pasqualino, andCatriona Chandler.
About the performers chosen to bring her book to life, Cooper said the following:
“[The cast] features some of the best acting talent that the British Isles has to offer. I cannot wait to be on set and see them bring the characters I love so much to life.”
A Very English ScandalproducerDominic Treadwell-Collinsis adaptingRivalsinto a series alongsideLaura Wade.Elliot Hegartywill serve as lead director on the adaptation, his past works includeTed LassoandCheaters. Treadwell-Collins and Hegarty will also be executive producing alongsideAlexander Lamb.
Stay tuned to Collider for any future updates onRivals. Below, check out a teaser trailer for Tennant’s return toDoctor Who:
