Sky Italia is trying out its own House of Cards meets The Sopranos.
The Italian pay-TV group is following the success of its mafia drama Gomorrah with 1992, a political thriller set during the tumultuous early ’90s, when the mafia, police and politicians of all stripes fought for control of Italy’s First Republic.
Italian production company Wildside is producing 1992 for Sky Italia with Germany’s Beta Film, a partner on Gomorrah, coming on board as a co-producer and world sales agent. Sky Italia will bow the first, 10-episode season of 1992 in Italy next year.
1992 is based on an idea from Italian actor Stefano Accorsi (The Last Kiss), who stars in the series alongside Guido Caprino, Domenico Diele, Tea Falco, Alessandro Roja and Miriam Leone.
The series follows multiple storylines involving, among others, a young cop investigating the mafia as part of the Mani Pulite (clean hands) operation; a veteran of the first Gulf War elected to Parliament for the right-wing, separatist Lega Nord Party; and a former prostitute who uses her looks, and everything else, to further her legitimate career.
Gomorrah, the TV series adapted from Roberto Saviano‘s best-selling novel exposé of Naples’ Camorra mafia, has been a massive hit for Sky Italia. The series has drawn more than 1.2 million viewers per episode, far more than any U.S. series such as House of Cards or Game of Thrones. The show has also sold strongly, including to BSkyB in the U.K., Sky Deutschland in Germany and to The Weinstein Company in the U.S.
Twitter: @sroxborough
