‘My Brilliant Friend’ Leads Italian TV Series Production Boom Despite RAI Budget Cuts

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorMunich-based sales agency Beta Cinema has closed sales to several major territories for stylish comic-book adaptation “Diabolik,” which is among the leaders in the race for Italy’s top film awards – the David di Donatello Awards – with 11 nominations. Beta Cinema will kick off presales on the film’s sequels in Cannes.“Diabolik” has been acquired by buyers in France (Metropolitan), Spain (Flins & Piniculas), and Latin America and Portugal (Sun Distribution Group).

Britain's Got Talent judge has lost a staggering four inches from his waist. He began his health journey prior to the pandemic after seeing photos of himself.

Naman Ramachandran “Beautiful Blue Eyes,” the last film starring Roy Scheider, will release worldwide on June 10, following a charity premiere in London on June 6.The two-time Oscar nominee (“Jaws,” “The French Connection,” “Marathon Man,” “Klute,” “All That Jazz”) died in 2008 while “Beautiful Blue Eyes” was being filmed. Completion of the film was put on hold until AI and CG technology was advanced enough to overcome the technical challenges faced by the filmmakers.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine has set Chinese-Italian co-production “The Italian Recipe” as the opening title of a revived, largely in-person event.The film, directed by Hou Zuxin, sees an unexpected series of events bring together a Chinese reality TV show contestant and a woman already resident in Italy. The collision of personalities, connections and chemistry between stars Liu Xun and Yao Huang resemble those of “Roman Holiday,” festival organizers suggest.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentItalian producer Massimo Cristaldi, who as a production manager worked with masters such as Federico Fellini and Francesco Rosi before setting up his own company and shepherding films including prizewinning drama “Sicilian Ghost Story,” has died. He was 66.Cristaldi’s death was announced over the weekend by his Rome-based company Cristaldi Pictures in a statement that did not specify the cause.Born in 1956, Massimo Cristaldi was the only son of prominent producer Franco Cristaldi, the triple Oscar-winner who made Pietro Germi’s “Divorce Italian Style,” Federico Fellini’s “Amarcord” and Giuseppe Tornatore’s “Cinema Paradiso.”In 1974 Massimo Cristaldi started cutting his teeth in the film business first as a production assistant and eventually, starting in the 1980s, becoming a line producer on many of his father’s productions, working with Fellini, Rosi, Tornatore, and many other Italian cinema greats.

Rachael Ray is bringing her home renovation adventure to the small screen.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe latest batch of Italian TV series for the international market is a mix of genres spanning from a new Elena Ferrante adaptation made for Netflix, to two RAI reconstructions of the country’s terrorism-plagued past and Sky’s spaghetti Western “Django.”DjangoThis English-language reimagining of the world of “Django,” the cult 1966 Sergio Corbucci spaghetti Western that launched the career of Italian icon Franco Nero, is a Sky Studios and Canal Plus original. The show’s cast includes Noomi Rapace, Nicholas Pinnock and Matthias Schoenaerts.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes his old club should turn to Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel to become their next permanent manager, insisting he would "be the one."

Deadline, Baldwin and his brother William Baldwin are flying out to Italy to film Kid Santa and Billie’s Magic World, two family comedy films which blend live-action and animation. Filming on the projects has already started in Rome.The two movies reunite Baldwin with director Francesco Cinquemani, who he previously worked with on 2015 sci-fi film Andron.On October 21 last year, Baldwin discharged a prop firearm on the set of Rust at Bonanza Creed Ranch in New Mexico, which killed Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.In legal documents obtained by CNN earlier this month, Baldwin claims he asked Hutchins if he should cock the gun that ultimately fired the live round of ammunition.“Baldwin asked Hutchins whether she wanted to see him cock the gun, as the script required,” reads the arbitration demand filed by Baldwin’s lawyer.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAn Italian TV host was slated to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom this week to give testimony in the rape and sexual assault case against Harvey Weinstein.But the host, Pascal Vicedomini, did not show up, after his attorney informed prosecutors last week that he would remain in Italy.Vicedomini is the founder of several film festivals, including the L.A. Italia Film, Fashion and Art Fest, which is being held this week at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.Before his downfall in 2017, Weinstein was a regular guest at Vicedomini’s festivals, and according to court records the two were close friends.In 2013, Weinstein flew to Los Angeles to attend the L.A.

Five months after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the production of Rust, the film’s star Alec Baldwin is set to make his screen comeback in a pair of Italian Christmas features.

Alec Baldwin has found his next pair of acting projects on the heels of the shooting on the Albuquerque set of his Western Rust, Deadline has confirmed.