Showtime's THE VATICAN Elects Bruno Ganz as Pope

As the world watched the news of the historic appointment of a new Pope, SHOWTIME's THE VATICAN continues to select the members of its "conclave" as acclaimed actor Bruno Ganz (Downfall) joins the drama pilot as Pope Sixtus VI.

Pope Sixtus VI, of German ancestry, is an unassuming and introspective caretaker of the Church, who struggles with his own legacy, and how history will judge his papacy. Starring Kyle Chandler, as CardinAl Thomas Duffy, THE VATICAN is a provocative contemporary genre thriller about spirituality, power and politics. Two-time Oscar nominee and three-time Emmy nominee Paul Attanasio (Quiz Show, Donnie Brasco, House MD) wrote the hour-long script. Triple Oscar nominee and Golden Globe-winner Sir Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Prometheus, Blade Runner, Black Hawk Down, and The Good Wife) will direct the pilot - marking his first ever for television. Attanasio, Scott, and David Zucker (The Good Wife) will serve as executive producers. THE VATICAN is being produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with Showtime for series consideration.

THE VATICAN will explore the relationships and rivalries, as well as the mysteries and miracles, behind one of the world's most hidden institutions. Ganz is best known for his award-winning role as Adolf Hitler in Downfall and feature films that include The Reader, Unknown and The Manchurian Candidate. He joins the all-star cast led by Chandler (Friday Night Lights, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty) in the lead role of Cardinal Duffy, the Archbishop of New York, whose progressive leanings excite some and alarm others within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. THE VATICAN also stars Golden Globe-nominated actress Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as the witty, rebellious younger sister of the Cardinal, Kayla Duffy, acclaimed actor Matthew Goode (A Single Man) as Papal Secretary Bernd Secretary Sebastian Koch, the Pope's closet confident, Sebastian Koch (A Good Day to Die Hard) as Cardinal marco Malebra, the Vatican's secretary of state, and Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting) as Monsignor Alberico Iemma, who is charged with the complex job of investigating and pronouncing miracles for the church.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX, as well as the multiplex channels Showtime 2, Showtime SHOWCASE, Showtime EXTREME, Showtime BEYOND, Showtime NEXT, Showtime WOMEN, Showtime FAMILY ZONE and THE MOVIE CHANNEL XTRA. SNI also offers Showtime HD, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD, Showtime ON DEMAND, FLIX ON DEMAND and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND, and the network's authentication service Showtime ANYTIME. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a Pay-Per-View basis through Showtime PPV.

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