Sky explores Italian fascism in new drama by ZeroZeroZero writer Stefano Bises

MIPTV: European pay TV operator Sky has commissioned an original drama that charts the rise of Italian fascist dictator Mussolini and is written by Stefano Bises, who was also behind Gomorrah – The Series, The New Pope and ZeroZeroZero.

Nils Hartmann

M Son of the Century, which is based on the book of the same name by Antonio Scurati, will cover the period from the founding of Fasci Italiani in 1919 through to Mussolini’s infamous speech in parliament following the murder of socialist MP Giacomo Matteotti in 1925.

The eight-part series from Sky Studios is produced by Lorenzo Mieli for Fremantle-owned production company The Apartment Pictures, in collaboration with Pathé. Bises will write the screenplay in collaboration with Davide Serino (1992, 1993, Il Re, Esterno Notte).

Filming will begin in 2023 and the series is set to be shown on Sky and streaming service Now in all Sky markets across Europe. Fremantle will handle international sales outside Sky territories.

Nils Hartmann, executive VP of Sky Studios Deutschland and Italia, said: “Antonio Scurati’s book is an unprecedented work in Italian literature, in terms of boldness, originality and accuracy. Producing a TV series based on this work is an opportunity we could not pass up.

“With the partnership and creativity of The Apartment team, we are diving right into the thrilling material of this story, to bring Sky customers a truly unique original series on the rise and fall of a man and the historical legacy that our country, and the world, have yet to come to terms with.”