Andrew Scott to play titular role in TV adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels
The actor will play the sociopath character who was brought to life by Matt Damon in 1999
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Andrew Scott has signed on to play the title role in Showtime’s upcoming adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels.
Highsmith wrote five books based on murderer and sociopath Tom Ripley and in 1999 a movie adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley was made starring Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow.
As well as ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’, the other books include ‘Ripley Under Ground’, ‘Ripley’s Game’, ‘The Boy Who Followed Ripley’ and ‘Ripley Under Water’, which all follow Ripley’s exploits as a con artist and serial killer who always gets away with his crimes.
Now, TVLine report that Showtime will be developing a series based around Highsmith’s novels starring Scott – who is best known for starring in Fleabag and Sherlock – as the titular sociopath.
Gary Levine, the entertainment president, said: “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 charima knows no bounds, inhabiting the iconic lead role, we feel confident that this will be a special one.”
Highsmith – who reportedly had relationships with women and men – also published the first lesbian novel with a happy ending, ‘The Price of Salt’, in 1952.