Beyond the luxury yacht parties and free-flowing champagne in the French Riviera, darkness lurks—at least according to a new television drama created by Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Neil Jordan.
Sky Atlantic's Riviera , launching later in 2017, is a stylish, sun-kissed thriller that delves inside the opulent playground of wealthy elites in the south of France, with all its debauchery, double-dealing, and perhaps even murder.
Ahead of its television premiere Thursday, Newsweek presents the first look at the trailer for the new drama.
Riviera stars Hollywood actor Julia Stiles ( Jason Bourne , 10 Things I Hate About You ) as Georgina, the American wife of billionaire Constantine Clios. When Clios, played by Anthony LaPaglia, is killed in a yacht explosion just a year into their marriage, she tries to uncover the truth about his death. Georgina discovers the extent of her husband's questionable business dealings and navigates a complex web of deceit and depravity to get to the truth of how he died.
Game of Thrones ' Iwan Rheon, who departed his role as evil Ramsay Bolton in season six, plays one of Constantine's sons, Adam, and British actor Adrian Lester (Undercover) plays Georgina's friend, art dealer Robert Carver. Oscar-nominated Lena Olin plays Constantine's ex-wife, Irina.
Stiles is the latest Hollywood actor to board a major Sky drama project as the U.K. broadcaster continues to produce big-budget, lavish homegrown projects with international scale. Fortitude, which returns for a second season, has lured the likes of Stanley Tucci and Dennis Quaid. Sky Atlantic also had a major international hit with Jude Law in The Young Pope in 2016.
Sky Atlantic will broadcast the Riviera teaser for the first time Thursday night during the second season premiere of Nordic noir-tinged Fortitude.
The network is hoping for a blockbuster year with new drama launches every month, including Riviera , Fortitude , the revival of Twin Peaks , Game of Thrones ' penultimate season, the second season of Billions, HBO's Big Little Lies and another original drama, Guerilla, starring and produced by Idris Elba.
'Riviera' will air on Sky Atlantic in the U.K., Ireland and Italy later in 2017, as well as on Sky in Germany and Austria.
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