Ripley

The Ripley series is based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 crime novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley. This adaptation by Steven Zaillian offers a much darker, more psychological tone compared to the 1999 film starring Matt Damon. The story follows Tom Ripley, a grifter hired to retrieve a wealthy playboy from Italy, which leads him down a path of murder and identity theft.

The series was filmed extensively in black and white on location in Italy, specifically within the iconic coastal city of Venice. Cinematographer Robert Elswit shot the series using vintage lenses to emphasize the architecture and stark contrast of the Italian settings. This visual choice perfectly complements Tom Ripley's sociopathic nature and the noir genre.

Irish actor Andrew Scott, famous for his role as the Hot Priest in Fleabag and Moriarty in BBC's Sherlock, stars as Tom Ripley. He stars alongside Johnny Flynn as Dickie Greenleaf and Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood. Scott's portrayal is notably older and more calculating than previous iterations of the character.

Ripley is a limited series exclusive to the streaming platform Netflix. Originally, the show was developed for Showtime before being acquired by Netflix. All eight episodes of the first season were released on the platform in April 2024.