ITV is adapting Daphne du Maurier’s period novel The Scapegoat, the story of two very different men, John Standing and Johnny Spence, who have one thing in common – a face.
The pair, exact replicas of each other, meet by chance in a station bar while both at a crossroads in their life.
The charming and charismatic Johnny wines and dines his new acquaintance but when John wakes the next morning with a hangover he is alone and a chauffeur is standing outside his room, waiting to take him ‘home’.
Despite his protests he finds himself sucked irresistibly into another man’s life…
Brothers and Sisters star Matthew Rhys has been cast in the double roles of John Standing and Johnny Spence while former Upstairs Downstairs actress Eileen Atkins will play Lady Spence.
The Scapegoat has been commissioned for ITV1 by Drama commissioning team Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes.
“We’re delighted to be bringing The Scapegoat to ITV1. It’s a terrific, suspenseful script featuring characters with sinister motivations and dark secrets.
“We’ve wanted to adapt a Daphne Du Maurier novel for some time and we’re thrilled we now have this opportunity with The Scapegoat,” said Mackie.
The film goes into production on location in London in November 2011 and will be released for cinema audiences following its screening on ITV1. 
