Amadeus Series: New Take on Genius vs. Jealousy

The celebrated play "Amadeus," which won a Tony Award in 1981 and inspired an Oscar-winning film, is now a five-part mini-series. Screenwriter Joe Barton adapted Peter Shaffer's work, bringing the story of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri to Starz.

This new adaptation, first shown in Britain in December 2025, features Will Sharpe as Mozart and Paul Bettany as Salieri. Barton has infused the 18th-century setting with a modern tone, similar to "The Serpent Queen" or "The Great."

Significant changes include colorblind casting and enhanced roles for female characters. Barton also aims for a more grounded, psychologically nuanced portrayal, diverging from the melodrama of the film adaptation.

While the music of Mozart remains a highlight, the series shifts focus more toward Mozart, exploring his financial and marital difficulties with greater depth. Sharpe plays Mozart as a working artist, while Bettany's Salieri is depicted with increased nuance and grounded motivations.

Constanze, Mozart's wife, played by Gabrielle Creevy, gains prominence, framing the narrative with her perspective. The series also introduces Alexander Pushkin as a metafictional element, drawing from Pushkin's own play inspired by the composers.