Culture Cinema & Tv News & features

Disney+ teases Rivals, a series set in the opulent and scandalous world of 1980s England’s elite

Disney+ teases Rivals, a series set in the opulent and scandalous world of 1980s England’s elite

Disney+ has unveiled the first tantalising teaser trailer for the eagerly awaited series Rivals. This adaptation, drawing from the storied pages of Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved novel, promises to immerse viewers in the scandalous and opulent world of 1980s England’s social elite, and is set to grace screens internationally later this year.

Rivals plunges into the cutthroat universe of independent television in 1986, featuring a constellation of characters embroiled in a web of romantic entanglements, underhanded dealings and witty exchanges. The show has a star studded line-up including Sarah Stratton played by Emily Atack, Caitlin O’Hara portrayed by Catriona Chandler and James Vereker brought to life by Oliver Chris, plus Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson, David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Nafessa Williams.

The series is the brainchild of executive producers Dominic Treadwell-Collins, known for A Very English Scandal and EastEnders, and Alexander Lamb, with credits including Ackley Bridge and The Bay. The formidable team also includes Felicity Blunt, Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade, Rivals author Dame Jilly Cooper and Lee Mason, Disney+’s Director of Scripted Content for EMEA. The narrative is penned by Treadwell-Collins and Wade, alongside a talented writers’ room.

As the world of Rivals prepares to unfold its tales of ambition, desire and power, Disney+ invites audiences to delve into a saga defined by its depth of character and the lavish backdrop of 1980s extravagance. 

The editorial unit

Rivals does not have a release date yet.

Watch the trailer for Rivals here:

More in Cinema & Tv

SXSW London 2025: The Institute

Mae Trumata

Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires

Christina Yang

“It was very interesting to read it, and have Tom DeLonge describe it”: Casper Van Dien on Monsters of California

Christina Yang

Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia to open Venice Film Festival 2025

The editorial unit

“Letting us pass this torch on to the kids just makes me reflect on how crazy this experience has been”: Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye and Malachi Barton on Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires

Christina Yang

Heads of State

Andrew Murray

Miley Cyrus unveils visual album Something Beautiful, streaming on Disney+ this July

The editorial unit

Ryan Gosling goes interstellar in Project Hail Mary, the latest sci-fi epic from the team behind The Martian and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

The editorial unit

Trailer drops for Roofman, Derek Cianfrance’s stranger-than-fiction crime drama starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst

The editorial unit