WATCH: Jude Law in first official trailer of 'The Young Pope'

The first official trailer for The Young Pope, starring Jude Law as the fictional Pope Pius XIII, has been released.

 Screenshot | Sky Atlantic

The eight-part miniseries will see Law playing Lenny Belardo, the first American Pope in history. The teaser trailer shows him smoking, and pledging to start a revolution.

Asked who he is, Belardo responds: "I'm a contradiction".

"I'm God. One in three and three in one. Like Mary: virgin and mother. Like man: good and evil."

"Young and charming, his election might seem the result of a simple and effective media strategy by the College of Cardinals. But, as we know, appearances can be deceptive," a statement from Sky said.

"Especially in the place and among the people who have chosen the great mystery of God as the guiding light of their existence. That place is the Vatican and those people are the leaders of the Catholic Church. And the most mysterious and contradictory figure of all turns out to be Pius XIII himself.

"Shrewd and naïve, old-fashioned and very modern, doubtful and resolute, ironic, pedantic, hurt and ruthless, Pius XIII tries to walk the long path of human loneliness to find a God for mankind. And for himself."

Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, the series stars Diane Keaton as a nun living in the Vatican City who raised Law's character and helped his ascension to Pope.

It is scheduled to begin showing on Sky Atlantic in the UK in October.

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
related articles
Jude Law, Benedict Cumberbatch and 40 faith leaders urge support for refugee children in Calais
Jude Law, Benedict Cumberbatch and 40 faith leaders urge support for refugee children in Calais

Jude Law, Benedict Cumberbatch and 40 faith leaders urge support for refugee children in Calais

News
Campaign seeks to put children's rights first in gay marriage debate
Campaign seeks to put children's rights first in gay marriage debate

Katy Faust is challenging the legal definition of marriage in the US, arguing that the rights of children to a mother and father have been undermined, and she sees parallels with the UK.

New report accuses Armenian government of targeting Apostolic Church
New report accuses Armenian government of targeting Apostolic Church

The report came as EU leaders gathered in Yerevan.

Reform will be 'far friendlier' to Christians than other parties if it wins office
Reform will be 'far friendlier' to Christians than other parties if it wins office

Farage is “not just giving lip service" to Christianity, says Reform's head of policy.

Council of Europe criticised over inadequate response to anti-Christian incidents
Council of Europe criticised over inadequate response to anti-Christian incidents

"There are mechanisms to combat anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, but nothing concerning Christians."