Emily Atack gets '80s makeover in first look at new drama role
Emily Atack has got an an '80s makeover for Disney+ drama Rivals, as seen in its first teaser trailer and new official photos.
Atack is part of the all-star cast for the upcoming eight-part series, which is based on Jilly Cooper's novel of the same name.
Rivals is set in 1986 and focuses on the cutthroat world of independent television – with many of its key characters caught up in excess and drama both on and off-screen.
The teaser trailer gives a brief flavour of that drama – hinting at wild parties, affairs, political posturing, and scandalous secrets becoming common knowledge around Rutshire, the fictional county where Rivals is set.
Atack plays Sarah Stratton, an ambitious socialite who's married to the recently-appointed deputy prime minister Paul Stratton (played by W1A's Rufus Jones).
They move in high society circles including the likes of Corinium Television's controller Lord Tony Baddingham (played by David Tennant), and his neighbour and arch-rival, the Conservative party MP Rupert Campbell-Black (played by The Boys' Alex Hassell).
A first look at Tennant and Hassell's characters was released last month, along with a glimpse at suave TV host Declan O'Hara (Poldark's Aidan Turner), who becomes caught up in Baddingham and Campbell-Black's bitter feud.
Disney+ has also released new character photos for Declan's wife Maud O'Hara (played by Victoria Smurfit), Caitlin O'Hara (Enola Holmes 2's Catriona Chandler), plus Danny Dyer's self-made electronics entrepreneur Freddie Jones.
Freddie is described as something of an outsider in Rutshire, until Rupert and Tony bring him a business proposition that could change his life.
The new stills also feature Valerie Jones (played by Lisa McGrillis), James Vereker (The Crown's Oliver Chris), and two more members of the Baddingham family – Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham and Skins star Luke Pasqualino as Bas Baddingham.
Rivals' large ensemble cast also includes Here We Go's Katherine Parkinson as romance novelist Lizzie Vereker and Black Lightning's Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook, an American TV executive who's been headhunted to produce Declan's TV show.
They're joined by Sex Education's Bella Maclean as Taggie O'Hara, Declan's strong-willed oldest daughter, and The Split's Annabel Scholey as a ruthless journalist named Beattie Johnson.
Cooper previously said of the show: "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. Viewers are in for a treat!"
Rivals will premiere later in 2024, streaming on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK and the rest of the world.
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