'Trust' To Air On Sky Atlantic

Sky Atlantic has confirmed that it is to air a new drama starring Donald Sutherland and Hilary Swank.

'Trust' tells the story of the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, heir to the Getty oil fortune. Inspired by actual events, Trust looks at the trials and triumphs of one of America's wealthiest and unhappiest families, the Gettys. Equal parts family history, dynastic saga and an examination of the corrosive power of money, Trust explores the complexities at the heart of every family, rich or poor.

Told over multiple series and spanning the twentieth century, Trust begins in 1973 with the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III (Harris Dickinson), an heir to the Getty oil fortune, by the Italian mafia in Rome. His captors banked on a multimillion dollar ransom. After all, what rich family wouldn't pay for the return of a loved one?

Paul's grandfather, J. Paul Getty Sr. (Donald Sutherland), an enigmatic oil tycoon and possibly the richest man in the world, is marooned in a Tudor mansion in the English countryside surrounded by a harem of mistresses and a pet lion. He's busy.

Paul's father, J. Paul Getty Jr. (Michael Esper), is lost in a daze in London and refuses to answer the phone. Only Paul's mother, Gail Getty (Hilary Swank), is left to negotiate with the increasingly desperate kidnappers. Unfortunately, she's broke. Trust charts the teenage grandson's nightmare ordeal at the hands of kidnappers who cannot understand why nobody seems to want their captive back.

The 10-part series will be made available exclusively on Sky Atlantic across the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Austria this spring. It has been developed by FX and distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution.

Trust has been written by Simon Beaufoy. It is executive produced by Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy and Christian Colson, with Boyle directing the first three episodes. The show is produced by FX Productions, Cloud Eight Films, Decibal Films and Snicket Films Limited.

The series stars Donald Sutherland as J. Paul Getty, Hilary Swank as Gail Getty, and Michael Esper as J. Paul Getty Jr.

Harris Dickinson plays J. Paul Getty III, J. Paul Getty's teenage grandson. Brendan Fraser plays J. Paul Getty's private investigator, James Fletcher Chace, and Anna Chancellor plays J. Paul Getty's confidant Penelope Kittson. The cast also includes Norbert Leo Butz, Charlotte Riley and Luca Marinelli.

Trust was acquired for Sky from Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution by Lucy Criddle, Sky's Head of Acquisitions Series. The series will also be available on streaming service NOW TV in the UK and Ireland.

(JP)