Kenneth Branagh is unrecognizable as he turns into Boris Johnson for the new coronavirus drama “This Sceptred Isle”.
The 60-year-old actor will play the role of British Prime Minister in the new drama Sky Atlantic.
The five-part series will map events around the prime minister, the government and the country in the face of the first wave of the global pandemic.
Kenneth’s cast as Bojo was first announced last month, and now his first image as the PM shows his total transformation into the 56-year-old politician.
Kenneth replaced his neatly trimmed brown hair with Boris’ trademark wild blond curls, and prostheses appear to have been used to give him more of Bojo’s facial features.
The series will be directed by Michael Winterbottom, who will also co-write, while Tim Shipman, the political editor of The Sunday Times, will serve as a consultant. Winterbottom co-wrote “This Sceptred Isle” with Kieron Quirke and will direct all five episodes.
The five-part drama begins with Johnson’s appointment as prime minister, before reporting the first cases of coronavirus in the UK – until Johnson fell ill with the virus and the arrival of his son.
This Sceptred Isle will continue to track the impact on Britain of this unique pandemic in a generation and the response of scientists, nurses and doctors
It is based on the first-hand testimony of people within 10 Downing Street, the Department of Health, the Emergency Scientific Advisory Group (SAGE) and hospitals and homes across the country.
Kenneth, just four years older than the Prime Minister, starred in “Valkyrie”, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” and “Dunkirk”.
He received the knight title in the 2012 birthday honors and was knighted in November of that year.
This Sceptred Isle will air on Sky Atlantic in the fall of 2022.