Amazon bosses are reportedly in ‘crisis talks’ over their upcoming historical drama A Very Royal Scandal about the 2019 Newsnight television interview of Prince Andrew after Netflix’s Scoop won praise.
Three-part series A Very Royal Scandal from Amazon MGM Studios is not set for release until October, six months after rival streaming service Netflix’s version, which was out on April 5.
The Amazon version retells journalist Emily Maitlis’ professional and personal journey in the run-up to the BBC Two interview with Prince Andrew, who is played by actor Michael Sheen.
Based on the book Scoops, by Sam McAlister, the Netflix film Scoop captures the tension behind booking the royal for the interview, as well as the fraught atmosphere among the cast during the interview.
Now, it is claimed Amazon bosses are desperately trying to think of ideas to promote A Very Royal Scandal, fearing the public would have lost interest in the story by October.
Amazon bosses are reportedly in ‘crisis talks’ over their historical drama A Very Royal Scandal about the 2019 television interview of Prince Andrew after Netflix’s Scoop won praise (actor Michael Sheen pictured as Prince Andrew for A Very Royal Scandal)
The Amazon version retells journalist Emily Maitlis’ professional and personal journey in the run-up to the BBC Two interview with Prince Andrew (actress Ruth Wilson pictured as Emily Maitlis for Amazon’s A Very Royal Scandal)
An insider told The Sun: ‘Amazon’s in crisis talks.
‘They spent a lot of money and are really worried that when it comes out, the public will think, “We’ve watched this,” and it’ll flop.’
One idea bosses are said to have come up with is to get journalist Maitlis to grill actress Ruth Wilson who plays her in the mini series.
The insider added: ‘Getting Scoop out first was the best thing.
‘Amazon feels like it’s already lost the battle with Netflix.’
MailOnline has contacted Amazon for comment.
It comes after Emily spoke out about Netflix’s dramatisation of her infamous Prince Andrew interview, saying she ‘left them very much to do their own thing’.
The film, Scoop, looks at the story behind the journalist’s Newsnight interview with Andrew who spoke about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew are seen following the BBC Newsnight interview in November 2019
One idea to get the attention of the public is to get journalist Maitlis to grill actress Ruth Wilson, who plays her in the mini series (Ruth pictured last month)
Three-part series A Very Royal Scandal from Amazon MGM Studios is not set for release until October, six months after rival streaming service Netflix’s version (Michael Sheen, who is to play Prince Andrew in the Amazon version, pictured last month)
Prince Andrew, Duke of York departs from the Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle last month
But Maitlis, who is played by Gillian Anderson, said she was not involved ‘because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges’ offering her views.
The Netflix production was an adaptation of a book by Sam McAlister, the producer who sealed the interview. Meanwhile, Matilis is continuing work on her own version of the story for Amazon called A Very Royal Scandal.
McAlister has also spoken out about Scoop, and was asked by Hello! on the red carpet whether she had received contact from Buckingham Palace. Laughing, she replied: ‘I’m still waiting on my CBE but I’m not sure it’s going to happen.’
Matilis told Deadline that Netflix has said Scoop is ‘based on a fictional account, so I think it goes into different places and it does different things’ to the Amazon series.’
The disclaimer used by Netflix for Scoop says: ‘This film is based on real events – however certain elements have been fictionalised for dramatic purposes.’
Maitlis, 53, said she had not watched Scoop before its premiere, but would ‘get around to it at some stage’.
She added that she was ‘very excited’ about the film and described McAlister as having taken the story to ‘new heights’.
Gillian Anderson (left) stars as Emily Maitlis (right) in the newly-released Netflix film Scoop, which came out on April 5
In Scoop, Rufus Sewell plays Andrew and Billie Piper plays McAlister. Keeley Hawes is Andrew’s former personal secretary Amanda Thirsk.
A Very Royal Scandal will star Ruth Wilson as Maitlis and Michael Sheen as Andrew, with McAlister played by Clare Calbraith.
Maitlis said of Wilson: ‘I’ve seen Ruth and what she has done is extraordinary to the point where I keep seeing flashes and go: ‘Oh, you’re looking great. Oh s**t, it’s not me’. That has been a very strange but brilliant process.’
Maitlis has already served as an executive producer of a Channel 4 documentary about the interview.
