MUBI ACQUIRES JOE WRIGHT’S HISTORICAL DRAMA SERIES 'MUSSOLINI: SON OF THE CENTURY'

May 12, 2025 - MUBI, the global distributor, streaming service and production company has acquired the acclaimed eight-part drama series Mussolini: Son of the Century for North America, Latin America, Belgium, Luxembourg, Turkey, India and New Zealand in a multi-territory deal with Fremantle.

Directed by BAFTA winning Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Darkest Hour), starring Luca Marinelli (Martin Eden, The Eight Mountains, The Old Guard) as Benito Mussolini and written by Stefano Bises (Gomorrah – The Series, The New Pope, ZeroZeroZero) and Davide Serino (1992, 1993, The King), the series is based on the bestselling book by Antonio Scurati and follows the rise to power of the infamous Italian political figure, Benito Mussolini, and the birth of fascism in Italy. 

Premiered at the 81st Venice Film Festival, Mussolini: Son of the Century is a scathing contemporary portrait of Mussolini and his political rise, from the formation of the irregular militia of the Fasces of Combat to the imposition of the most ferocious dictatorships Italy has ever known.

Joe Wright said: “This series was a chance to explore how charisma and chaos can coexist in a single man—and how that dangerous combination can reshape a nation. Luca Marinelli brings Mussolini’s volatility and magnetism to terrifying life. It was a privilege to work with such an extraordinary team on a story that feels both historical and disturbingly timeless. MUBI is the perfect home for the series—a platform that embraces daring, intelligent storytelling and treats its audience as collaborators in the experience.”

Christian Vesper, CEO Global Drama & Film, Fremantle said: “It was really important to us that we found the right partner to help us expand the reach of Mussolini: Son of the Century and I’ve no doubt that’s exactly what we’ve got in MUBI. I can’t think of a better pair of hands to nurture and celebrate this extraordinary series and help us tell this important story.”

Efe Cakarel, Founder & CEO, MUBI, said: “Fearless storytelling has always been at the heart of MUBI, and no one embodies it more vividly than Joe Wright. With Mussolini: Son of the Century he transforms history into pulse-quickening drama—elevated by Luca Marinelli’s searing performance—and proves how the screen can both unsettle and enlighten. We’re honored to bring this extraordinary series to audiences around the world.”

Mussolini: Son of the Century, is produced by Sky Studios and Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle company, in co-production with Pathé, in association with Small Forward Productions, in collaboration with Fremantle, Cinecittà S.p.A., and Sky. Fremantle handles global sales.

The acquisition adds to MUBI’s growing focus on presenting series alongside films on the streaming platform. Previous exclusive series on MUBI include Wiliam Kentridge’s Self Portrait as a Coffee Pot, and Lars von Trier’s The Kingdom Trilogy. To mark the 35th anniversary of its release, David Lynch and Mark Frost’s visionary cult classic, Twin Peaks (1990) and Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series (2017), will be coming to MUBI in select territories from 13 June 2025. MUBI also recently announced it will be releasing Wong Kar Wai’s series, Blossoms Shanghai, in multiple territories.

Recent and upcoming MUBI Releases include Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound starring Paul Mescal, Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind starring Josh O’Connor, Academy Award® winning Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance starring Demi Moore, Luca Guadagnino’s Queer starring Daniel Craig, and Magnus von Horn's Academy Award® nominated The Girl with the Needle. 

Upcoming MUBI Productions include Kelly Reichardt’sThe Mastermind starring Josh O’Connor, which will world premiere in Competition at Cannes 2025, and co-productions include Father Mother Sister Brother and Karim Aïnouz’s Rosebush Pruning.

(Poster/Photo/Video credit: MUBI)

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