Rivals: Official teaser trailer
David Tennant and Aidan Turner star in a scandalous new drama coming to Disney+ later this year.
Based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s bestselling novel, Rivals is officially hitting screens on Friday, October 18.
The streamer announced the exciting update at the Edinburgh TV Festival today (August 21).
Set against the backdrop of the backstabbing, cutthroat and wild TV industry of the 1980s, two powerful families are set to go head-to-head in this unmissable new drama.
Alongside the release date announcement, Disney+ has also shared closer looks at Doctor Who star David and Poldark icon Aidan’s characters Tony Baddingham and Declan O'Hara.
Also in the main cast is Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, a former Olympian and Tory Minister of Sport who has a long-standing feud with David’s Tony, the Managing Director of Corinium Television.
A crop of British talent fills out Rivals’ impressive roster, including EastEnders’ Danny Dyer, Emily Atack, Katherine Parkinson and Nafessa Williams.
Finally, Bella Maclean, Catriona Chandler, Oliver Chris, Rufus Jones, Lisa McGrillis, Luke Pasqualino, Claire Rushbrook and Victoria Smurfit also star.
An official synopsis reads: “The story is set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England.
Disney+ now costs as little as £4.99 a month for the Standard with Ads plan, but members can get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront on the Standard or Premium plans.
Disney+ is the only place to stream epic shows including The Bear and Shōgun, plus blockbuster franchises like Star Wars and Marvel.
“In the fictional county of Rutshire, a long-standing rivalry between two powerful men is about to boil over. Alex Hassell plays dashing ex-Olympian, Tory Member of Parliament and incorrigible rake, the dangerously charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black.
“David Tennant plays Rupert’s single-mindedly ambitious and egotistical Rutshire neighbour Lord Tony Baddingham, controller of Corinium Television.
“A long-simmering power struggle between them threatens to boil over when the two men lock horns over the future of Corinium.”
Author and executive producer Dame Jilly previously commented: “I'm utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals.
"Featuring some of the best acting talent that the British Isles has to offer, I couldn't have dreamed of a better ensemble cast.
"I cannot wait to be on set and see them bring the characters I love so much to life.
"The minute we met with Alex we knew he'd perfectly embody my all-time hero, the iconic, racy, ruthless, and devastatingly handsome, Rupert Campbell-Black. Viewers are in for a treat!”
Rivals will be released Friday, October 18 exclusively on Disney+.
