Hayley Atwell, Rupert Everett Join Disney+’s Rivals

Hayley Atwell (Mission: Impossible, Agent Carter) and Rupert Everett (Napoleon, My Policeman) are among the new cast members for the second season of Disney+’s Rivals.

Atwell will star as Helen Gordon, Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children. Everett will take on the role of her husband, Malise Gordon, Campbell-Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor.

Further talent joining the ensemble are Maxim Ays (Boarders), Holly Cattle (Young Sherlock), Oliver Dench (Hotel Portofino), Amanda Lawrence (Malory Towers), Bobby Lockwood (Wolfblood), Eliot Salt (Slow Horses) and Jonny Weldon (One Day).

Returning cast from season one includes Wendy Albiston (Coronation Street), Jamie Bisping (Piglets), Denise Black (Queer As Folk), Timothy Blore (Unsinkable), Hubert Burton (Wolf Hall), Antony Byrne (Karenina), David Calder (The World Is Not Enough), Nino Furuhata (Tetris) and Selina Griffiths (The Larkins), among many others.

The drama is set against the backdrop of the Cotswolds countryside and the high-stakes world of 1980s British television. Careers, marriages and reputations hang in the balance as personal and professional lives collide.

Rivals is based on the best-selling novel by Dame Jilly Cooper. It is produced by Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios.

The series will return to Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in the U.K. and internationally.

“Rivals is a landmark series for Disney+, quickly becoming one of our most beloved British U.K. original dramas,” said Lee Mason, executive director of scripted originals for EMEA at Disney+. “I’m delighted to welcome Hayley and Rupert to our extraordinary family of actors. They are a perfect match for the world of Rutshire, so lovingly created by Dame Jilly and the team at Happy Prince.”

Happy Prince’s Dominic Treadwell-Collins, chief creative officer, and Alexander Lamb, creative director, added, “We are utterly thrilled to have Hayley and Rupert join us to play Jilly Cooper’s legendary characters Helen and Malise Gordon. Alongside our other new wonderful actors and truly brilliant returning cast, Rivals series two absolutely showcases the best of British and Irish talent. With further exciting guest stars to be announced, we can’t wait for everyone to see what’s next for the residents of Rutshire.”