Kenneth Branagh makes an eerily spot-on Boris Johnson in 1st image from new COVID-19 drama

Kenneth Branagh
(Image credit: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Kenneth Branagh is headed to Downing Street in a new drama set to take on some very recent events.

The award-winning actor is starring as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the new Sky drama This Sceptred Isle, and he looked unrecognizable in the first image revealed Thursday as filming began.

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"Our series weaves together countless true stories — from Boris Johnson in Number 10 to front line workers around the country — chronicling the efforts of scientists, doctors, care home workers and policy makers to protect us from the virus," Winterbottom said.

This Sceptred Isle will debut in fall 2022, by which point one can only hope it will no longer be about an ongoing pandemic. See the first image — and try to convince yourself it's actually Branagh you're looking at here — below. Brendan Morrow

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.