It’s never not shocking to say this out loud, but fascism has become a very modern subject. What once seemed like a forgotten topic in History books is now very much present, and one of the biggest pieces of evidence is that it’s being reflected in the mainstream art world. Today,Varietyreported exclusively that filmmakerJoe Wrightis attached to direct a TV series centered onBenito Mussolini, titled simplyM.
Mwill be an eight-episode series based on the best-selling novelM. Son of the Century, by authorAntonio Scurati. Both novel and series map out the birth of fascism in Italy and depict how Mussolini became one of the founders of it, especially by elevating this government strategy through populism – a model that has been reproduced by several fascist politicians to this day.
The series starts shooting soon, which means we can expect to discover who is the actor playing the title character in the coming weeks. It’s a big role to take on, the kind that brings newcomers to stardom or challenges industry veterans. The series is adapted for the screen and written byStefano Bises– a screenwriter who’s had experience penning gritty, political, and religious stories like the acclaimed series’Gomorrah,The New Pope, andThe Miracle.Davide Serino(1992,The Comedians) also collaborates with the scripts.
RELATED:‘The Crown’ Casts Amir El-Masry as Harrods Tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed
When speaking about the series to Variety, BAFTA-nominated producerLorenzo Mieli(The Hand of God) commented on the rise of fascism in the Americas and Europe, and why he chose to bring director Wright on board:
“Fascism is something that today is relevant for everyone. It’s been relevant for the past decades, but it’s especially relevant now all over the world. And it’s interesting because before Trump, the U.S. and Anglo-Saxon culture thought Fascism was something that was not on their radar. But now it is. That’s why I thought of an Anglo-Saxon director [Joe Wright for ‘M’].”
Wright is an extremely eclectic director who has helmed titles likePride & Prejudice,The Soloist, and fan-favorite episode “Nosedive” from the Netflix seriesBlack Mirror. In cinema culture, the director is frequently remembered for his long take in the war dramaAtonement, and he’s the one who helped British actorGary Oldman(Slow Horses) finally win an Academy Award due to his portrayal of Winston Churchill inThe Darkest Hour. Recently, Wright directed the thriller movieThe Woman in the Window, as well as the period musicalCyrano.
Mis yet to get further details, including cast and expected release window.
