Amadeus is a 2025 British historical drama television miniseries adapted by Joe Barton from the 1979 stage play by Peter Shaffer. It gives a fictionalised account of the lives of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, portrayed by Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany respectively, with Gabrielle Creevy portraying Mozart's wife, Constanze. It is the second screen adaptation of the play, following the 1984 film. Amadeus premiered on 21 December 2025 on Sky Atlantic.
Contents
Premise
A 25-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arrives in Vienna, Austria, during the 18th century and meets a young singer who will become his wife (Constanze Mozart) and by way of her, the court composer Antonio Salieri.
Cast and characters
Main
Will Sharpe as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Paul Bettany as Antonio Salieri
Gabrielle Creevy as Constanze Mozart
Jessica Alexander as Katerina
Jonathan Aris as Leopold Mozart
Olivia-Mai Barrett as Sophie Weber
Lucy Cohu as Cecilia Weber
Nancy Farino as Josepha Weber
Anastasia Martin as Aloysia Weber
Ényì Okoronkwo as Lorenzo Da Ponte
Rory Kinnear as Emperor Joseph
Jyuddah Jaymes as Franz Xaver Süssmayr
Jack Farthing as Alexander Pushkin
Supporting
Paul Bazely as Gottfried van Swieten
Hugh Sachs as Von Strack
Rupert Vansittart as Rosenberg
Viola Prettejohn as Princess Elizabeth
Production
The project was reported to be in development in November 2022 with Two Cities Television and screenwriter Joe Barton.
It was announced to be moving forward in February 2024, with Julian Farino and Alice Seabright directing from a Joe Barton script with Will Sharpe in the role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In April, Paul Bettany and Gabrielle Creevy joined the cast as Antonio Salieri and Constanze Mozart respectively. In late May, it was announced Rory Kinnear, Lucy Cohu, Jonathan Aris, Enyi Okoronkwo, Jessica Alexander and Hugh Sachs had been cast. Also cast in undisclosed roles were Paul Bazely, Rupert Vansittart, Anastasia Martin, Nancy Farino, Olivia-Mai Barrett, Viola Prettejohn, and Jyuddah James.
Filming took place in Budapest, Hungary, between May and September 2024.
Release
The five-episode series premiered on 21 December 2025 on Sky Atlantic. The series premiered on 8 May 2026 on Starz in the United States.
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 16 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Amadeus scales historical drama highs through sensational storytelling and divine performances by Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany." Some published reviews were positive; Pippa Bailey wrote for The New Statesman that the series was "sumptuous, highly enjoyable television".
Writing for The Critic, Australian composer Alexander Voltz viewed the series less favourably, questioning its screenplay, casting and original score, and describing it as "without authentic intention". Lucy Mangan, for The Guardian, was equally critical, awarding the series two stars, stating "this Mozart series is a pale, petty version of the movie it's based on".
The series won for Make Up & Hair Design at the British Academy Television Craft Awards.