Jude Law Will Topline Paolo Sorrentino’s TV Skein ‘The Young Pope,’ HBO on Board

Variety ^ | 05-17-2015 | Nick Vivarelli

[NRx]

...Law will play Lenny Belardo, a conservative American pontiff recruited by a Vatican fed up with liberals. “No one, even at the Vatican, is prepared for how hard-line this American pope really is,” Tony Grisoni, who is one of the writers, recently told Variety.

[NRx]

Jude Law playing Pope Pius XIII?

This is one of those things where depending on what direction the producers choose to go in, it could be either very good, or just awful. The blurb suggests that this is not intended to be your typical Hollywood shot at conservative Catholics. We shall see.

[Oztrich Boy]

I was hoping for Benedict IX, starring Justin Beiber

[BillyBoy]

>> aw will play Lenny Belardo, a conservative American pontiff recruited by a Vatican fed up with liberals. “No one, even at the Vatican, is prepared for how hard-line this American pope really is" <<

Hmmm. Mixed feelings on this one.

On the one hand, I'd LOVE to see a "hard-liner conservative American pontiff" who is recruited by Catholics "fed up with liberals" to take over the Vatican in real life. Sounds like ideal TV to escape away from the horrors of reality in America today.

On the other hand, the idea of Jude Law PORTRAYING a "hard-liner conservative American pontiff" is too ridiculous to take seriously. It would be like casting Natalie Portman to play a fiery Baptist preacher from Alabama, or casting Kirk Cameron to play a hip & cool Hindu Swami who rallies 1960s peaceniks.

[Impy]

Or Dougie Houser playing a womanizer.

[Unam Sanctam]

I have no doubt this will just be more anti-Catholic propaganda from the evil entertainment industry.

[piusv]

I agree. Besides, I’d hate to see what they call “conservative”.

[GOPsterinMA]

I despise Jude Law. Hate. I find him to be unacceptable.

Khent hisses at the TV when she sees Jude Law.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Don’t know the actor.

I izz passing here.

[GOPsterinMA]

He’s a British turd,

[x]

Owing to Jude Law's deep understanding of Italian-American culture, no doubt ...

Thanks for keeping the word "skein" alive, though ...

[Impy]

I watched the first ep.

Kinda a strange show but high quality, I was very engaged, can’t wait for the next ep. Not sure yet how Catholic-bashy it might be.

Would take this Pope over Bergolio.