Will Arnett, Juliet Stevenson, Jack Stevenson, Jack Fox, Gregory Fitoussi and Poppy Delevinge head to the Riviera

Monday 21 May 2018

Series two of the Sky original Production Riviera commences filming with the addition of the stellar new cast

The Cote d’Azur is about to get even more stylish as a host of new faces join the cast of Sky Atlantic’s record breaking drama, Riviera.

The second series of the Sky original production sees returning cast members Julia Stiles, Lena Olin, Roxane Duran and Dimitri Leonidas joined in the sun-soaked south of France by Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Juliet Stevenson (Truly, Madly, Deeply), Poppy Delevingne (Kingsman: The Golden Circle), Jack Fox (Kids In Love) and Grégory Fitoussi (World War Z).

This series picks up in the aftermath of the shocking first series finale. While the Clios family contend with the devastation caused by Constantine’s death, Georgina’s focus is on getting away with murder. However, things become more complicated with the introduction of the Elthams, an aristocratic English family with secrets of their own. Juliet Stevenson takes on the role of Lady Cassandra Eltham and is joined on the Riviera by her children, the impossibly stylish Daphne (Delevingne) and the brooding Nico (Fox).

Meanwhile, Georgina (Julia Stiles) is reunited with her charismatic uncle Jeff (Arnett) and we learn more about the troubled past she left behind in America. She also becomes entangled with the handsome and mysterious Noah (Fitoussi).

The first season of Riviera was Sky’s most successful original commission to date with an audience of 2.3m per episode, and over 20m downloads and views in total. Riviera 2 promises to give fans even more of what they love, with more glamour, more intrigue and more betrayal: all set against the gorgeous backdrop of the playground of the super rich.

Filming commenced today on location in Nice with the series set to return to Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in 2019.

Julia Stiles said: “It’s thrilling to return to the Riviera and to welcome such incredible new talent to the show. Georgina’s past catches up to her in season two and the drama only intensifies. She is reunited with her mysterious yet charming uncle, someone who sees through her armor. Will is perfectly cast in that role and I am excited to explore how far Georgina will go to protect her new life.”

Sky's Head of Drama, Anne Mensah said: “Riviera is the ultimate in escapism, a cinematic journey into the extraordinary world of the rich and powerful seen through the eyes of our anti-heroine, Georgina.”

“The Elthams will bring a fresh rush of aristocratic British elegance to sit alongside the new money European luxury of the Clioses, while the introduction of Georgina’s uncle Jeff gives us the opportunity to explore more of her dark backstory. We are thrilled these characters will be brought to life by such incredible acting talent.”

Riviera also welcomes back acclaimed Belgian director, Hans Herbots (Rellik) in the role of lead director.

Riviera is a Sky original production in association with Altice Studios. Produced by Archery Pictures, Primo Productions and Sky, the executive producers are Kris Thykier, Paul McGuinness and Cameron Roach for Sky. International distribution is being handled by Sky Vision.

For more information please contact:
skyteam@premiercomms.com

About Sky

Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 23 million customers across seven countries - UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. The company had annual reported revenues of £12.9 billion in 2016/17, and is Europe’s leading investor in television content with an annual programming spend of around £7 billion.

From exclusive partnerships with HBO, Showtime and Warner Bros. to Sky Original Productions, Sky offers the best and broadest range of content along with the best viewing experience to suit each and every customer. Whether that’s through the multi-award winning next generation box, Sky Q, or Sky’s contract-free online streaming service, NOW TV, customers have access to the latest movies, drama, sports and kids entertainment wherever and whenever they like. This is all supported by Sky’s best in class customer service.

Sky’s success is not just based on what the company does but how it does it. Three new major commitments have been launched for Sky’s corporate campaign Sky Ocean Rescue; the reduction of our own single-use plastics by 2020; an investment fund of £25 million over five years in technology solutions; and support of marine protected areas across our markets.

Sky has over 31,000 employees and is listed as one of The Times Top 50 employers for women, as well as being recognised in the Stonewall list of Top 50 LGBT-inclusive employers. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).

About NOW TV

NOW TV is a pick and mix TV streaming service that lets you choose from a range of passes contract free.

Available anytime, anywhere in the UK, you can watch through a NOW TV Box or NOW TV Smart Stick, or on the web. The NOW TV app is also available on over 60 devices.

Whether you’re into big dramas, blockbuster movies, live sports or even just some extra TV for the kids, NOW TV offers four passes which include the latest and best TV and movies: Entertainment, Sky Cinema, Kids and Sky Sports.

This includes Sky Atlantic, over 300 Box Sets on demand, all 10 Sky Sports channels and over 1,000 movies – all available with no contract.

For more information

About Sky Vision

Sky Vision is the production and distribution arm of Sky. The distribution arm represents around 6,000 hours of quality primetime programming from Sky Original Productions and independent third party production, across all key primetime genres (drama, entertainment, factual entertainment and factual). The business also has equity investments in ten production businesses in the UK and US; Love Productions, Blast! Films, Sugar Films, True North, Chrysalis Vision, Avanti Media and Sky Vision Productions in the UK; and in the US, Jupiter Entertainment, Talos Films and Znak & Co.

In addition to its equity investments, Sky Vision works extensively with independent producers in the UK and North America and has development deals with a number of production companies including Double Nickel, MyEntertainment and Peacock Alley in North America; and Bohemia Films, Chalkboard TV, LittleRock Pictures, Merman Films, Spark Media Partners, ACME and STV Productions in the UK.

About Archery Pictures:

Archery Pictures is a UK based independent production company founded in October 2014 by Kris Thykier. The company has produced two high profile television projects, ‘Riviera’ created by Neil Jordan for Sky Atlantic; and Peter Kosminsky's four-part drama ‘The State’ for Channel 4 and National Geographic, recently nominated for a BAFTA Television Award for Best Mini Series.

Also produced by Thykier and released in the UK in 2017 was John Madden’s ‘Miss Sloane’, which garnered a Golden Globe Nomination for star, Jessica Chastain. The film features Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha- Raw, Sam Waterston and John Lithgow. The year also saw the release of the company’s Azerbaijan-set epic love story ‘Ali & Nino’ starring Adam Bakri and Maria Valverde and directed by Asif Kapadia (Amy). Thykier is currently in post-production on ‘Tolkien’ directed by Dome Karukoski (Tom of Finland) and starring Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins for Fox Searchlight and Chernin Entertainment.