My Brilliant Friend gets second run

My Brilliant Friend debuted last month

Premium US cablenet HBO and Italian pubcaster Rai have renewed Fremantle drama My Brilliant Friend for a second season.

My Brilliant Friend: The Story of a New Name will be based on the second book of four written by Elena Ferrante.

The eight-episode first season of My Brilliant Friend is based on Ferrante’s bestselling book of the same name, which is the first of her tetralogy published in the US by Europa Editions.

The plot follows a 60-year friendship between two people who meet in primary school in 1950s Naples.

It stars Elisa Del Genio and Ludovica Nasti as the younger versions of main characters Elena and Lila, while Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace portray teenage versions of the characters. All episodes have been directed by Saverio Costanzo.

Produced by Wildside and Fandango and distributed internationally by Fremantle, the first season debuted on November 18.

The season two commission was announced today by HBO president Casey Bloys and Rai CEO Fabrizio Salini.