The new Sky Atlantic historical drama Amadeus brings the famous story of musical rivalry back to life with a fresh cast. This 2025 miniseries, which premiered on December 21, adapts Peter Shaffer’s classic play about composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. At the heart of this new version are actors Will Sharpe, Paul Bettany, and Gabrielle Creevy, who lead an ensemble portraying the vibrant and scheming world of 18th-century Vienna.
The success of Amadeus hinges on the dynamic between its three central characters, brought to screen by a mix of established stars and rising talent.
Will Sharpe takes on the challenging role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In this series, Mozart arrives in Vienna as a brilliant but chaotic 25-year-old, struggling to find his place after his father’s death. Sharpe is known internationally for his role as Ethan in the second season of The White Lotus. He is also an accomplished writer and director, having created series like Flowers and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. His portrayal shows Mozart as a genius who is both vulgar and captivating, much to the frustration of his rival.
Playing the envious court composer Antonio Salieri is Paul Bettany. Salieri is a respected musician who feels his talent is mediocre next to Mozart’s divine gift, sparking a bitter rivalry. Bettany is a veteran actor perhaps best recognized as Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the series WandaVision. His film career includes roles in A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander, and A Knight’s Tale. In Amadeus, Bettany also serves as an executive producer.
Gabrielle Creevy portrays Constanze Mozart (née Weber), the singer who becomes Mozart’s wife. Constanze is depicted as a pragmatic and loyal partner, trying to ground her husband amidst his genius and financial troubles. Creevy is a rising star whose previous work includes the BBC series The Pact and the Netflix thriller Black Doves, another project by Amadeus writer Joe Barton.
The drama of the Viennese court is filled out by a strong roster of supporting actors, each playing historical figures who influenced Mozart’s life and career.
Rory Kinnear plays Emperor Joseph II, the ruler of Austria. The series presents the Emperor as a man with limited musical understanding, a common dramatic portrayal, though historically he was considered a progressive Enlightenment ruler. Kinnear is widely known for playing Bill Tanner in the James Bond films starring Daniel Craig. He also starred in a memorable episode of Black Mirror and recently appeared as Tom Bombadil in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Jonathan Aris takes the role of Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang’s demanding and controlling father. Leopold exploited his son’s childhood genius and continues to cast a long shadow over his adult life. Aris is familiar to audiences as the skeptical police officer Anderson in the BBC’s Sherlock. He has also appeared in The Night Manager, Good Omens, and films like The Martian.
The Weber family, central to Mozart’s personal life, is well-represented:
The political and artistic intrigue of the court is driven by several key officials.
Hugh Sachs plays Count von Strack, a high-ranking court official who represents the establishment’s mixed reaction to Mozart’s talent. Sachs is best known for playing Brimsley in the Netflix series Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte.
Rupert Vansittart appears as Count Rosenberg, another court figure. Vansittart is a veteran character actor known for roles in Game of Thrones (as Lord Yohn Royce) and the long-running UK series Heartbeat.
Paul Bazely plays Baron Gottfried van Swieten, an aristocratic patron of the arts who introduced Mozart to the music of Bach and Handel. Bazely’s extensive TV career includes roles in The IT Crowd and Benidorm.
Other notable historical figures include:
This new Amadeus is a five-episode British miniseries produced by Two Cities Television and Sky Studios. It is written by Joe Barton (known for Giri/Haji) and directed by Julian Farino and Alice Seabright. The series began filming in Budapest, Hungary, in May 2024.
The story is a new adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s 1979 play, which was famously turned into an Oscar-winning film in 1984. It offers a fictionalized account of the relationship between Mozart and Salieri, focusing on themes of genius, jealousy, and legacy.
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The series premiered on Sky Atlantic on December 21, 2025, with episodes releasing daily. For viewers in the UK, it is available to watch on Sky and its streaming service, Now. As a Sky original production, international release details for regions like the USA and India are expected to be announced at a later date.
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