Ed Westwick, John Hannah and Alanah Bloor Join Turkish Star Can Yaman in ‘Sandokan’ TV Series Reboot as Production Begins (EXCLUSIVE)
Ed Westwick (“Gossip Girl”), John Hannah (“The Mummy”) and British newcomer Alanah Bloor will join Turkish star Can Yaman in “Sandokan,” Lux Vide’s reboot of the cult Italian TV series about the adventures of its owner. pirate who, with his motley crew, fights against the colonial powers of Southeast Asia.
Filming will begin on April 22 on the outskirts of Rome for this high-end reboot of Italian writer Emilio Salgari’s exotic epic. The original “Sandokan”, directed in 1976 by Sergio Sollima, catapulted Indian actor Kabir Bedi to Bollywood stardom, having sold in more than 85 countries worldwide.
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Fremantle-owned Lux Vide’s new spin on the famous “Sandokan” IP is based on an idea from Lux Vide CEO Luca Bernabei, developed for television by Alessandro Sermoneta (“Devils”); Scott Rosenbaum (“The Shield”); Davide Lantieri (“Monterossi”) and directed by Jan Maria Michelini (“Devils”) and Nicola Abbatangelo (“Doc”).
In an unusual arrangement, “Sandokan” will air on Italian state broadcaster RAI, flagship station RAI1 and will be distributed worldwide by Fremantle, except in one territory. In Spain, the distributor of the program is the Mediterráneo Group Mediaset España, controlled by Berlusconi.
“Sandokan” is set in the mid-19th century on the island of Borneo, where the native Dayak tribes are ruled by ruthless Britishers “at the height of their colonial power,” as the provided synopsis says.
The new “Sandokan” is also described as a big epic with a strong environmental angle.
Initially, Sandokan (Yaman) goes about his pirate business without taking sides, leading his motley crew that includes trusted sidekick Yanez de Gomera, played by Italian standout Alessandro Preziosi (“The Lying Life of Adults”). Everything changes during a raid when Sandokan crosses paths and runs away with Marianne (Bloor), the daughter of the British consul. Pirate hunter Lord James Brooke, played by Westwick, will follow his path. The “Gossip Girl” star is the protagonist’s antagonist “who will stop at nothing to capture Sandokan and win Marianne’s heart,” the synopsis says.
Also joining the cast of “Sandokan” are Madeleine Price (“Geek Girl”); Gilberto Gliozzi (“I delitti del Barlume”); Mark Grosy (“Zero Zero Zero”) and Samuele Segreto (“Stranizza d’amuri”).
“We are very proud to bring the iconic ‘Sandokan’ saga back to Italian homes,” Bernabei said in a statement. “For the past few years, we have worked to create an international project that would enhance Emilio Salgari’s IP in a contemporary way.”
RAI’s Head of Drama, Maria Pia Ammirati, emphasized that “Sandokan is a mythical character that marks the history of RAI”.
Jens Richter, Fremantle’s General Manager Commercial and International, added: “We are thrilled to partner with Lux Vide and Rai Fiction on this exciting and ambitious re-imagining of a much-loved saga for new audiences around the world.”
Filming of the show will begin in Formello, on the outskirts of Rome, where the “Sandokan” set will inaugurate the new Theater 7 within Lux Vide’s own production center. Filming for “Sandokan” will also take place in the Lazio region, Tuscany, Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean and Italy’s evocative southern Calabria region, where the English colony of Labuan has been recreated in Lamezia Terme with the support of Calabria Film. Commission
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