HBO, Rai renew My Brilliant Friend

My Brilliant Friend

US premium cablenet HBO and Italian public broadcaster Rai have renewed original drama series My Brilliant Friend for a third season.

The show is based on Elena Ferrante’s bestselling book series of the same name. Set in Naples, it tells the story of a 60-year friendship between local girls Elena and Raffaella.

The third instalment is based on Ferrante’s third book in the series, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, and is produced by Fremantle-owned Italian prodcos The Apartment and Wildside, along with Rome-based Fandango Production in collaboration with Rai Fiction and HBO Entertainment.

Paolo Sorrentino and Jennifer Schuur are executive producers on the series, with Lorenzo Mieli, Mario Gianani and Domenico Procacci producing. Fremantle will handle international distribution of the series in association with Rai Com.

Lorenzo Mieli, CEO of The Apartment, said the challenge with adapting the first novel was “breaking down geographical and linguistic barriers, betting on the past to speak about the present and on the specific to turn it into something universal.”

The season two finale of the series will air on Monday May 4 on Rai 1 and HBO.