The Young Pope

The Young Pope season 1 on Sky Atlantic (IT)
Watch The Young Pope on Sky Atlantic (IT)
Status:
Ended
Season 1:
Ended on November 18, 2016
Watched: 0%
0 of 10 Episodes
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Notes:

Season: 1
# Air Date Episode Name Watched?
E1 Oct 21, 2016 Episode 1
E2 Oct 21, 2016 Episode 2
E3 Oct 28, 2016 Episode 3
E4 Oct 28, 2016 Episode 4
E5 Nov 04, 2016 Episode 5
E6 Nov 04, 2016 Episode 6
E7 Nov 11, 2016 Episode 7
E8 Nov 11, 2016 Episode 8
E9 Nov 18, 2016 Episode 9
E10 Nov 18, 2016 Episode 10
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Watched / Unwatched
Mark Season 1:
Watched / Unwatched
Production Note - Limited Series
Production Type:
Limited Series

The Young Pope is a standalone Limited Series that concluded its 10-episode run in February 2017. The production was a massive international co-production between Sky, Canal+, and HBO, marking director Paolo Sorrentino's first foray into television. This series was designed as a cinematic exploration of the internal politics of the Vatican and the enigmatic psyche of its first American pontiff, Lenny Belardo.

While the narrative universe eventually expanded into a follow-up series titled The New Pope, this specific installment was crafted with a self-contained arc that explores the protagonist's rise and his radical shift in papal tradition. The high production values, including meticulously reconstructed sets of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica, underscore the intent to deliver a finite, prestige television event rather than an open-ended procedural. The story concludes at a thematic crossroads that fulfills the creative vision established at the outset of the project.

The Young Pope consists of 10 episodes, all directed by Academy Award winner Paolo Sorrentino. It features an international cast led by Jude Law and Diane Keaton. The production was a joint venture between Italy's Sky Italia, France's Canal+, and America's HBO, representing one of the most expensive European television productions of its time.
Confidence: 5% Last Refined: March 2026
Why Watch:
"Explore how Paolo Sorrentino used Cherry Coke Zero and electronic music to redefine religious iconography on screen."
Series Analysis:
Sorrentino’s The Young Pope arrived as a radical departure from traditional liturgical dramas, blending high-fashion aesthetics with profound theological inquiry. Starring Jude Law as the mercurial Lenny Belardo, the series challenged the status quo of prestige television by prioritizing surrealism and silence over explosive action. Its cultural footprint is marked by a unique juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern, turning the Vatican into a stage for a lonely, Cherry Coke Zero-drinking revolutionary. While the story expanded into The New Pope, the original run remains a definitive peak of European co-production. Its legacy lies in proving that a slow-burn character study could become a global phenomenon. Be sure to set a reminder for your digital calendar; in this era of reboots, the Holy See may yet return.
Tone: Analytical, cinematic, and reverent. Last Updated: March 2026
Frequently Asked Questions

No, The Young Pope is a standalone limited series that concluded after its initial run. While creator Paolo Sorrentino produced a follow-up series titled The New Pope, the original show functions as a self-contained narrative.

The series is an original work created by director Paolo Sorrentino and is not based on a book or real-life events. It presents a fictionalized version of the modern papacy through the character of Lenny Belardo.

Production primarily took place in Rome, where the Vatican's interiors were meticulously reconstructed at Cinecitta Studios. Additional scenes were filmed on location in Venice and at various historic Italian villas.

The Young Pope consists of exactly 10 episodes in its complete run. Each episode was directed by Paolo Sorrentino to maintain a consistent cinematic vision throughout the limited series.

Jude Law stars as Lenny Belardo, the fictional first American Pope who takes the name Pius XIII. The cast also features Diane Keaton as Sister Mary, his lifelong mentor and confidante.

The New Pope is a continuation of the story, but it is classified as a separate limited series rather than a second season. It picks up the narrative threads involving Lenny Belardo while introducing a new central figure to the Vatican.
FAQs Updated: March 2026
Featured Characters (6)
See All (12)
Network:
Sky Atlantic (IT)
Seasons:
1
Years:
2016 - 2016
Genre:
Drama
Rating:
TV-PG
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