'Fleabag' Star Andrew 'Hot Priest' Scott to Star in 'Mr. Ripley' Series

Out actor Andrew Scott titillated audiences this year in the acclaimed series "Fleabag," playing the so-called "hot priest" and he'll likely do it again in his new role: The British star has been cast to play the lead role in a "Mr. Ripley" series coming to Showtime next year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on queer writer Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley novels, Showtime announced Wednesday that Scott will star in the upcoming eight-episode season from Oscar-winning writer Steven Zaillian, who will write and direct the full first season. Season 1 will follow Mr. Ripley in "1960s New York to Italy after he's hired by a wealthy man to retrieve his vagabond son and return him to America. Deceit, fraud, murder and, if it's anything like the movie, palpable sexual tension ensue," THR writes.

"We are so thrilled to have the supremely talented filmmaker, Steve Zaillian, adapt the singular saga of Tom Ripley from Patricia Highsmith's novels as an ongoing series for Showtime," said Showtime president of entertainment Gary Levine. "With Andrew Scott, whose charisma knows no bounds, inhabiting the iconic lead role, we feel confident that this will be a special one."

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" became a hit film in 1999, starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and Matt Damon as the titular character.