Sky Italia dramatises Rome’s origin

Pay TV operator Sky Italia has commissioned an original drama series about the founding of Rome.

Matteo Rovere

A first TV project for Italian director, screenwriter and producer Matteo Rovere (Drifters), Romulus tells the story of the origin of Rome in eighth century BC through the eyes of three people: Iemos, Wiros and Ilia.

The Italian arm of European satcaster Sky is coproducing the 10-part series with local producer Cattleya, which is part of ITV Studios, and Rovere’s prodco Groenlandia.

Filming will begin next month in Rome, continuing for 28 weeks in the Italian capital and its surrounding areas. ITV Studios Global Entertainment is handling worldwide distribution.

The Romulus cast includes Andrea Arcangeli (The Startup, Trust), Marianna Fontana (Indivisible, Capri-Revolution) and Francesco Di Napoli (Piranhas).

Rovere said: “Romulus is a story about feelings, war, brotherhood, courage and fear. It is a great, epic fresco, a highly realistic reconstruction of the events that led to the foundation of Rome.

“But above all, it is an investigation into the origins and the profound meaning of power in the West; a journey into an archaic and frightening world, where everything is sacred and people feel the mysterious and hostile presence of the gods everywhere.”

Romulus is the latest original scripted commission from Sky Italia following last year’s order of financial thriller Devils, based on a novel by Guido Maria Brera and produced by local prodco Lux Vide.