Actress Gillian Anderson has undergone a “staggering” transformation as she stars in upcoming Netflix film Scoop, portraying journalist Emily Maitlis.
The film is set to be adapted from former Newsnight producer Sam McAlister’s memoir Scoops: The BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews from Prince Andrew to Stephen Seagal.
Broadcasting giant Netflix has said it will look at “navigating Palace vetoes, to breaking through to Prince Andrew’s inner circle, the high-stakes negotiations and intensity of rehearsal – to the jaw-dropping interview itself”.
It added that the film will also take a look at the “the journalists whose tenacity and guts broke through the highest of ceilings”.
Rufus Sewell will star as Prince Andrew, whilst Anderson will play Maitlis who took on the role of grilling the Duke of York about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a 2019 Newsnight interview.
Following the announcement of the series, Netflix has recently released first look images of the drama and left fans of Anderson in disbelief.
Gillian Anderson portrays Emily Maitlis alongside Rufus Sewell who portrays Prince Andrew
NETFLIX
The photos show Anderson wearing a nearly identical military style blazer to which Maitlis wore in the 2019 interview along with blonde cropped hair.
Praising her new look, one X user said: “Gillian Anderson playing Emily Maitlis, it just can’t get better than that!”
Another added: “This is wild. Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis? She’s like a female Michael Sheen, could literally transform into anyone.”
A third exclaimed: “Aside from ruining my Rufus Sewell crush #Scoop has great casting. I mean is there no one that #GillianAnderson can’t play? She is the spit of #EmilyMaitlis.”
Emily Maitlis interview Prince Andrew back in 2019
GETTY/BBC
“I cannot tell you how happy I am to see Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis! She looks staggering and was definitely the right choice!” a fourth fan praised. (sic)
Meanwhile, many were also stunned as to how “eerily similar” Sewell looked to Prince Andrew in the images.
The Netflix show will also star Billie Piper as McAlister, Keeley Hawes as Prince Andrew’s former private secretary Amanda Thirsk, and Romola Garai as Esme Wren, who led Newsnight at the time of the interview.
The interview came about after Prince Andrew denied having an intimate relationship with Virginia Giuffre when she was just 17 years old. He continues to vehemently deny all allegations.
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Gillian Anderson left fans stunned over her transformation
NETFLIX
During the interview, he claimed to have never met her on the day in question as he was at a Pizza Express in Woking.
The interview was turned into memes across the country and soon adapted into Prince Andrew: The Musical.
Netflix is currently still staying tight-lipped about when the film will be released, but viewers should hopefully be able to watch later in 2024.