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The New Pope Teaser Trailer: John Malkovich Is A Pompous Pontiff
John Malkovich is a “pompous” pontiff in the new teaser trailer for The New Pope, from creator and director Paolo Sorrentino for HBO, Sky Atlantic, and Canal +. The series is the followup to the critically acclaimed 2016 series, The Young Pope, which saw Jude Law in the titular role as Lenny Belardo, the first American to ever become pope. The series took a sometimes surreal, dreamlike approach to Lenny’s papacy, especially with regard to his relationship with Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) and the Cardinals in the Vatican.
The result was one of the most original series to hit HBO in quite a while, and one that deservedly won praise for Law and Sorrentino, especially after the pre-release snark directed at the series for its title and its seemingly prurient obsession with Law’s good looks. Instead, Sorrentino delivered a moving tale of an unorthodox pontiff and the road that brought him to the ultimate seat in the Catholic Church. Though it’s been years since the series originally aired, anticipation is building for a return to Sorrentino’s vision, one that includes John Malkovich as Sir John Brannox, the man who is set to succeed Lenny’s Pius XIII.
HBO already released an excellent teaser for The New Pope, one that featured a buff Law in a speedo walking on the beach and causing a significant uproar. That teaser was an excellent example of what Sorrentino has up his sleeve with regard to the series’ sometimes irreverent approach to its subject matter. Now, however, a new teaser takes a more direct approach to the, well, new pope. The result is Malkovich offering up an entertaining introduction to his character, one that isn’t shy when it comes to pointing out his vanity. Check out the new teaser for The New Pope below:
As was the case with the first series, The New Pope exhibits a great deal of humor, which when combined with Malkovich’s pronounced acting style, makes for a terrific combination. For his part, Malkovich has been incredibly busy on television as of late, with roles in Billions and The ABC Murders, as well as a role in Steve Carell’s upcoming Netflix comedy, Space Force. As was the case with Law, Sorrentino gives Malkovich a character that plays to his strengths, and the actor appears ready to deliver.
It’s no doubt that as HBO prepares for 2020 it will amplify the marketing for The New Pope considerably. Perhaps, then, audiences will get a better idea of what’s in store for Lenny and the Catholic Church. Until that happens, eager viewers can bask in the glory of Malkovich’s pompous pope.
The New Pope premiers in January 2020 on HBO.
