Scoop, Netflix's new film about Prince Andrew's infamous 2019 Newsnight interview, has already shot to the top of the streamer's charts since its release on Friday.
With a cast boasting Rufus Sewell as the prince, Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis and Billie Piper as Newsnight booker Sam McAlister, anticipation for the movie had been sky-high in the weeks leading up to its arrival.
However, now that plenty of subscribers across the globe have had the chance to watch the dramatisation of how the interview was orchestrated, there's one moment that sticks out above the rest.
In the film based on McAlister's book about securing the chat, viewers witnessed the booker's numerous approaches to the palace, the Newsnight team's arduous preparations, a depiction of the interview of itself, and the fallout which left Andrew's assistant Amanda Thirsk (played by Keeley Hawes) scouring the job vacancy ads.
But as the film drew to a close with the interview hitting screens, Scoop viewers witnessed Sewell's Andrew settle down for a bath before he's distracted by the incessant sound his phone pinging.
Andrew leaves the bath to go through his phone as he sees the reaction to the interview in real time, while the camera panned out to show the naked royal looking rather despondent by what he's witnessing.
Scoop Netflix: Billie Piper stars as Sam McAlister in the movie
NETFLIX
It's this parting image of Andrew's backside which has left a number of Scoop viewers hitting out at the decision to include it in the first place.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one person questioned: "Did we really need to see Prince Andrew’s bare a**e? #ScoopNetflix #Scoop."
While a second typed: "The shot of Prince Andrew’s bum in #Scoop #ScoopNetflix #PrinceAndrew," alongside a grimacing gif.
"Could have done without Andrew in the bath though #scoop," a third hit out before a fourth critiqued: "You forget just what a cringefest this all was.
Rufus Sewell's transformation into Prince Andrew is mind-blowing...
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) April 6, 2024
Scoop, now playing on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/1c3PRG2RAo
"Rufus Sewell is brilliant at capturing Andrew in all his embarrassing, tactless... out of touch glory. Warning: contains a 'royal' a**e in a wish-you-could-unsee-it bathtub scene #ScoopNetflix."
And a fifth similarly echoed: "Watched #ScoopNetflix last night. I know they said some scenes were made up for dramatic purposes but was the Prince Andrew bare backside scene completely necessary??!!! I've gone through a bottle of Optrex already this morning!!" (sic)
Despite spending hours in makeup to play the Duke of York, Sewell did state publicly prior to Scoop's release that the he used a bum double for the memorable moment.
"Not that I’m ashamed of my own," he told Radio Times. "I get it out whenever I get the chance!
"But this bum was specially shipped in," the actor humorously quipped.
Andrew is yet to release a public statement about the Netflix drama but days before its release, Maitlis shared her thoughts on the dramatisation.
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Rufus Sewell took on the role of Prince Andrew in Netflix's Scoop
NETFLIX
"I’ve left them very much to do their own thing because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges offering my [views]," the former Newsnight host told Deadline.
"It says it’s based on a fictional account, so I think it goes into different places and it does different things [to the Amazon series]."
Another drama based on the Newsnight interview is set for release on Amazon Prime Video in the future starring Ruth Wilson and Michael Sheen.
