Hulu has announced the launch date for its original series “Rivals” as Friday, October 18, 2024. The series is based on the iconic novel by Dame Jilly Cooper, part of her Rutshire Chronicles series. “Rivals” consists of eight episodes and presents a blend of romantic entanglements, power struggles, and wit.
“Rivals” is set in the glamorous and cut-throat world of independent television in 1980s England, exploring the drama, excess, and antics of the social elite during that decade.
The cast is led by Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, a charismatic ex-Olympian and Member of Parliament, David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham, Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara, and Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook. The cast also includes Katherine Parkinson, Bella Maclean, Emily Atack, Catriona Chandler, Oliver Chris, Danny Dyer, Rufus Jones, Lisa McGrillis, Luke Pasqualino, Claire Rushbrook, and Victoria Smurfit.
“Rivals” is executive-produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, Felicity Blunt, Laura Wade, Dame Jilly Cooper, and Lee Mason, the Director of Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA. The series is produced by Happy Prince, an ITV Studios company. The writing team includes Treadwell-Collins, Wade, Sophie Goodhart, Marek Horn, Mimi Hare, Clare Naylor, Dare Aiyegbayo, Kefi Chadwick, Tray Agyeman, and Sorcha Kurien Walsh.
Kelly Valentine Hendry is the casting director, while Elliot Hegarty, known for his work on “Ted Lasso,” directs the first four episodes and serves as an executive producer. Eliza Mellor is the series producer, and Dee Koppang O’Leary and Alexandra Brodski also direct episodes.
