Mubi, the popular streaming platform, has recently acquired the rights to the Joe Wright-directed drama series “Mussolini: Son of the Century” for multiple territories including North America, Latin America, Belgium, Luxembourg, Turkey, India, and New Zealand. This acquisition was made in a multi-territory deal with Fremantle, the production company behind the series.
Based on the bestselling novel “M” by Italian author Antonio Scurati, the eight-part series delves into the rise of Fascism in Italy, focusing on the period between 1919 and 1925 when Benito Mussolini, played by Luca Marinelli, gained power and declared himself a dictator. The series takes an innovative approach to reconstructing Mussolini’s ascent to power during this tumultuous time in Italian history.
“Mussolini: Son of the Century” premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year, where Joe Wright described the show as a “howl against the current rise of the Far-Right.” The series received positive reviews after airing on Sky in Italy and the U.K., showcasing Marinelli’s captivating portrayal of the volatile and magnetic Mussolini.
Joe Wright expressed his excitement about the series, stating that it was an opportunity to explore how charisma and chaos can shape a nation when embodied in a single individual. He praised Marinelli’s performance and highlighted Mubi as the perfect platform for the series due to its commitment to daring and intelligent storytelling.
Fremantle’s CEO of global drama and film, Christian Vesper, emphasized the importance of finding the right partner to expand the reach of “Mussolini: Son of the Century,” and expressed confidence in Mubi’s ability to nurture and celebrate the series.
Mubi’s founder and CEO, Efe Cakarel, echoed the sentiment, stating that fearless storytelling has always been at the core of Mubi’s platform. He commended Joe Wright for transforming history into gripping drama and praised Marinelli’s performance for bringing the series to life.
The acquisition of “Mussolini: Son of the Century” aligns with Mubi’s strategy of showcasing series alongside films on its platform. Previous exclusive series on Mubi include works by acclaimed artists such as Wiliam Kentridge and Lars von Trier.
Produced by Sky Studios and Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures, “Mussolini: Son of the Century” is a collaboration with Pathé, Small Forward Productions, Fremantle, Cinecittà S.p.A., and Sky. Fremantle is responsible for handling global sales of the series.
