Sky, Canal+ unchain Django

European pay TV operator Sky and French broadcaster Canal+ have commissioned a drama series called Django, loosely based on Sergio Corbucci’s 1996 film of the same name.

Matthias Schoenaerts

Django will be available on Sky’s services in Italy, the UK, Ireland, Austria and Germany and on Canal+ channels in France, Benelux and Africa.

Produced in English by Italian prodco Cattleya (ZeroZeroZero, Gomorrah) and France’s Atlantique Productions (Midnight Sun, The Eddy), the 10×60’ western follows a man who is haunted by the murder of his family but, believing his daughter is still alive, goes looking for her.

The first few episodes will be directed by Francesca Comencini (Gomorrah the Series), who will also be the series’ artistic director, with executive producers including Riccardo Tozzi and Olivier Bibas.

StudioCanal has worldwide distribution rights to the show, which will star Matthias Schoenaerts (The Danish Girl, The Mustang, Bullhead, Rust and Bone) as Django.

Comencini said: “I was extremely attracted to this project as it features extremely strong female characters and delivers a thought-provoking reappraisal of masculinity in the western genre. It’s a universal story with a narrative that celebrates diversity and minorities.”