Fleabag’s run might be coming to an end, but Andrew Scott, a breakout star from its Emmy winning second season, is set to remain a presence on American televisions. Per Deadline, the Irish actor will star in Ripley, a new drama on Showtime based on Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels. The show will be set in 1960’s New York and follow the show’s title character, a poor grifter at the start of the series, as he is hired to bring a rich man’s wayward son back from Italy. Little does Ripley know, this trip will mark his first steps down a dark path. Over the course of the series, Ripley will descend from con artist to serial killer. The project was announced in March, with the rights soon acquired by Showtime, who agreed to a series commitment. The first season will run for eight episodes.
While Scott provides a known face on camera, the show also boasts a known quantity behind it. The show’s entire first season will be written and directed by Steven Zaillian, an Oscar winner for writing Schindler’s List and a nominee for co-writing Moneyball, Gangs of New York, and Awakenings. For television, he co-wrote and directed several episodes of HBO’s limited series The Night Of, which received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited Series. Zaillian will also serve as executive producer on Ripley.
Showtime’s President of Entertainment Gary Levine released a statement on both Scott and Zaillian, saying, “We are so thrilled to have the supremely talented filmmaker, Steve Zaillian, adapt the singular saga of Tom Ripley from Patricia Highsmith’s novels as an ongoing series for Showtime. With Andrew Scott, whose charisma knows no bounds, inhabiting the iconic lead role, we feel confident that this will be a special one.”
Joining Zaillian as executive producer are Philipp Keel, Ben Forkner, Sharon Levy, Guymon Casady, and Garrett Basch. In tandem with starring, Scott will also serve as a producer. The show will be produced by Showtime, Endemol Shine North America, Filmrights, and Entertainment 360.
Showtime has not announced a timeline for Ripley’s release.