Hulu is expanding its prestige drama slate with Vatican City, a new series that reunites visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott with the creative minds behind Evil. The project marks Scott’s return to a religious political thriller concept more than a decade after an earlier attempt stalled at the pilot stage, this time with a modern, character driven twist.
A Collaboration Years In The Making
The series is written by Robert and Michelle King, the co creators behind Evil, who are partnering once again with Scott through his company Scott Free Productions. Vatican City is being developed as a co production between CBS Studios, King Size Productions, and Scott Free.
This marks another major collaboration between the Kings and Scott following their work together on The Good Wife and its celebrated spinoff The Good Fight.
Story, Plot, And Themes
At the center of Vatican City is Caroline, an American journalist in Rome who is unexpectedly invited by the newly elected Pope to become the Vatican’s first female spokesperson. Her new position puts her inside the highest level of Church power, where she must navigate papal politics, deep seated misogyny, and unresolved trauma from her own past.
The story leans heavily into themes the Kings explored in Evil, particularly in characters such as Sister Andrea, while expanding the scope to focus more deeply on institutional power and secrecy within the Church.
Ridley Scott’s Return To A Long Abandoned Idea
Vatican City also revives a concept Scott previously explored in 2013 with The Vatican, a political thriller pilot developed for Showtime. That project, starring Kyle Chandler, never moved forward after production challenges and creative setbacks.
This new Hulu version gives Scott a chance to revisit religious and political tension with a more modern framework and longer narrative runway.
Connected Projects And Expanding Creative Universe
In addition to Vatican City, the Kings are developing Cupertino for CBS, a legal drama that reunites them with Mike Colter, who previously starred in Evil. That series is currently planned for a 2026 release.
Vatican City is also expected to resonate with audiences who enjoyed the political and religious atmosphere of the film Conclave, blending faith, power, secrecy, and personal cost.
Final Thoughts
Vatican City positions itself as a prestige drama built on proven creative partnerships and long standing thematic interests. With Ridley Scott returning to a genre he has wanted to explore for years, and the Evil creators steering the story, Hulu may be gearing up for one of its most ambitious original dramas in years.
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