‘The Young Pope’ Season 2 Follows Jude Law as Rogue Pontiff Pius XIII in Brand New Trailer; Diane Keaton’s Sister Mary Behind Power Play?

‘The Young Pope’ season 2 is set to follow the continuing story of Jude Law’s rogue pontiff Pope Pius XIII as revealed in a brand new trailer released by HBO. It was also hinted that Diane Keaton’s Sister Mary may be behind Pius’ power play.

The tense new trailer for season 2 opens to Law’s Pope Pius in a confessional. When asked about his sins, he coolly replies, “I don’t have any sins to confess… My only sin is that my conscience does not accuse me of anything.”

In the next scene, Keaton’s Sister Mary tells him that he has the responsibility of leading the Catholic church. She says, “One billion people… One-fifth of the world’s population. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Pope Pius XIII is depicted as unlike any pontiff known in the modern world. He is power-hungry and even admits his unconventional ways. Law’s character says, “I don’t care about your opinions, if I’m up for the task. I don’t care if you think I’m weak, or a scoundrel.”

He also threatens that although not everyone is “afraid” of him, they will be soon enough. By the end of the trailer, he warns that he is ready to wage a war without end against enemies that threaten to hinder his plans of total control. James Cromwell also makes an appearance in the trailer as a cardinal openly against Pope Pius’ rule. He says, “You’ll be a terrible pope… the most dangerous in modern times.”

As the hidden corners behind the walls of the Vatican are revealed as rife with scandal, gossip, and politics, season 2 promises to live up to its controversial subject matter.

It was hinted that Keaton’s sister Mary may be the real person behind Pope Pius XIII’s (born Lenny Belard) rule as the nun was the one who raised him to take over the papacy, according to Collider. The American nun raised Lenny in an orphanage and groomed him throughout his career.

Season 1 followed Pope Pius XIII’s rise to power as the newly elected pope and former archbishop of New York. Sister Mary was also appointed as the personal secretary to the Pope.

During an interview with the Daily Mail, Law talked more about his radical young Pope. He said, “The name of the show is The Young Pope, so everyone thinks he’s going to be super-liberal – the young guy in the Vatican changing things in a very modern way.”

He continued, “But the surprise is that this is actually a very God-fearing, dogmatic young man who approaches matters in ways that are completely different from the way anyone would have expected. Lenny is everything that appeals to an actor. He’s complicated, beguiling, three-dimensional, and a lot of light is shed on him as the story progresses.”

‘The Young Pope’ season 2 is expected to premiere on HBO on January 15, 2017. The drama series was created by award-winning Italian film director and screenwriter Paolo Sorrentino.