Exclusive: Paul Bettany and Will Sharpe speak on playing Antonio Salieri & Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus
Currently playing on Starz is Amadeus, a five-part reimagination detailing the intoxicating rivalry between composers Wolfgang “Amadeus” Mozart (Will Sharpe) and Antonio Salieri (Paul Bettany) in 18th century Vienna as Mozart’s musical brilliance threatens to jeopardize everything Salieri holds dear: his talent, his reputation, even his faith in God.
Based on Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play, and boldly adapted by Joe Barton, twenty-five-year-old Amadeus (Will Sharpe) arrives in bustling 18th Century Vienna, no longer a child prodigy and craving creative freedom, his world collides with two pivotal figures: his fiercely loyal future wife, Constanze Weber, and devoutly religious court composer, Antonio Salieri (Paul Bettany).
As Amadeus’ brilliance continues to flourish in spite of his personal demons, a questionable reputation and skepticism from the conservative court, Salieri becomes increasingly tormented by this apparent divine gift. Amadeus is a threat to all that he holds dear in life: his talent, his reputation, even his faith in God. Salieri vows to bring him down. What begins as professional rivalry turns into a deeply personal obsession spanning 30 years, culminating in a murder confession and a desperate attempt to entwine himself with Mozart’s legacy forever.
Bettany is known for the roles in shows such as Amazon Studios and the BBC’s drama A Very British Scandal and as ‘Vision’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Disney+ series WandaVision.
Sharpe broke out in the BBC and Netflix’s Giri/Hajiand subsequently gained worldwide recognition for his role as Ethan in HBO’s White LotusSeason 2. His role in White Lotus earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Sharpe also had a supporting role in the comedy-drama film A Real Pain, alongside Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin.
Blackfilmandtv.com's Wilson Morales talks to Paul Bettany and Will Sharpe about their new series Amadeus.
