‘Amadeus’ Series to Star Paul Bettany as Salieri, Will Sharpe as Mozart

Paul Bettany (A Very British Scandal, WandaVision) will star in Sky original series Amadeus, portraying composer Antonio Salieri opposite Will Sharpe (Giri/Haji, The White Lotus) in the titular role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The series is described as a “playfully reimagined limited event series” from writer Joe Barton (Giri/Haji, The Lazarus Project) and director Julian Farino (Giri/Haji). “Deftly reimagined from Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play, Barton’s adaptation will expand and interrogate the mythic rivalry of the two composers,” according to a description. “Hero of his own story but villain to history, Salieri’s envy turns vengeful as he uses any means necessary to thwart Mozart and protect his position in the establishment.”

On stage, Bettany most recently starred in the Broadway production of Anthony McCarten’s drama The Collaboration as Andy Warhol. 

“I can’t wait to work with Julian Farino, Joe Barton, Sky and Will Sharpe who, for my money, is hands down the most exciting actor of his generation,” said Bettany.

“Set within the musical hub of bustling Vienna at the end of the 18th century, 25-year-old Amadeus (Sharpe) arrives in the city no longer a child and determined to carve his own path,” reads a plot description. “Recently unemployed and without the management of his father, Amadeus finds an unlikely ally in a young singer who will become his wife, fiery Constanze Weber Mozart. Her connections help bring him into the orbit of the Italian opera powerhouse and court composer Antonio Salieri (Bettany), setting the three of them on a collision course that will ultimately define their lives and their legacies for years to come.”

Amadeus is produced by Two Cities Television, part of STV Studios, in association with Sky Studios. Megan Spanjian is the executive producer for Sky Studios; Michael Jackson (Patrick Melrose) and Stephen Wright (Blue Lights) serve as executive producers for Two Cities. Farino (Giri/Haji) and Alice Seabright (Chloe, Sex Education) will direct, with Barton, Sharpe and Farino also serving as executive producers. 

Production on the series is scheduled to start in Hungary this spring. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution will handle international sales of the series. 

Bettany is repped by UTA and Affirmative Entertainment.