People strolling through Sant Elm yesterday were surprised by the bustle of cameras, lorries and lighting equipment. Amid all the activity was well-known British actor Rupert Friend preparing to film his scenes. With so much going on, many were left wondering what was being filmed. The answer is Youth, HBO’s new production, which is shooting scenes for its first season in Mallorca with the support of local company Palma Pictures.
Youth is written by Sharon Horgan, who also stars in the series. She is best known for her comedic roles in shows such as Bad Sisters, Catastrophe, Motherland and Divorce, starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
The series is directed by British filmmaker Dawn Shadforth, best known for directing music videos for artists including Kylie Minogue, Jamiroquai, Iggy Pop, Björk, Oasis, Florence and the Machine, Charli XCX, Tinie Tempah, Nicole Scherzinger and Selena Gomez, among many others.
Yesterday’s main attraction was clearly Rupert Friend, the English actor who has appeared in films such as Pride and Prejudice, where he played Mr Wickham, the Jurassic World franchise, Asteroid City, The French Dispatch and the series Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, his most notable role remains Homeland, in which he appeared across 57 episodes.
The series, HBO’s latest production, follows the story of a 50-year-old woman going through a divorce while juggling the care of her elderly parents and a complicated relationship with her adult son, who still has not moved out. It is described as a sharp comedy exploring desire, later-life motherhood, family and the emotional strain of middle age. Executive producers include Faye Dorn, Jim Kleverweis, and both Dawn Shadforth and Sharon Horgan through Merman.