Django is an Italian-French television series created by Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli, directed by Francesca Comencini and co-produced by Sky Atlantic and Canal+. It is an English-language reimagining of the 1966 Italian film of the same name by Sergio Corbucci. The series, consisting of ten episodes, premiered on Canal+ in France on February 13, 2023, Sky Atlantic in Italy on February 17, 2023 and Sky Atlantic in the UK on March 1, 2023.
| Django | |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli |
| Based on | Django by Sergio Corbucci |
| Written by |
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| Story by |
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| Directed by | Francesca Comencini |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Mokadelic |
| Country of origin |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production location | Romania |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | February 13 – March 13, 2023 |
Premise
editThe series takes place in the Old West of the 1860s–1870s. Django finds his way to New Babylon, a city founded by John Ellis, where all manner of outcasts are welcome regardless of their background or beliefs. Eight years earlier, Django's family was murdered, but he believes that his daughter Sarah survived and has been searching for her ever since. Django finds her in New Babylon, but she is about to marry Ellis. However, Sarah does not want Django to remain in town, fearing that trouble will follow him. Django is determined not to leave her again, and reconnect with his daughter.[1]
Cast
editMain
edit- Matthias Schoenaerts as Julian Wright / Django, a man searching for his daughter, Sarah, after the rest of their family was murdered.
- Nicholas Pinnock as John Ellis, the founder of New Babylon, a welcoming city to outcasts of any background. Cache Vanderpuye portrays young John during flashback scenes.
- Lisa Vicari as Sarah Wright, Django's long lost daughter, set to marry John Ellis. Maya Kelly portrays Sarah during flashback scenes.
- Noomi Rapace as Elizabeth Thurman / The Lady, the merciless rival and former childhood friend of John Ellis. Millie Ryder portrays young Elizabeth during flashback scenes.
Recurring
edit- Jyuddah Jaymes as Seymour Ellis
- Benny O. Arthur as Kevin Ellis
- Eric Kole as Phillip Ellis
- Joshua J Parker as Adam Thurman
- Camille Dugay Comencini as Margaret Wright
- Tom Austen as Elijah Turner
- Emeline Lambert as Caroline Turner
- Oleksandr Rudynsky as Spencer Forrest
- Haris Salihovic as Blaine Forrest
- Abigail Thorn as Jess
- Romario Simpson as Reuben Morgan
- Tobi Ibitoye as Harry
- Antal Edgar Miklos as Guardian
- Dakota Trancher Williams as Aaron
- Franco Nero as Reverend
Episodes
edit| No. | Title [2] | Directed by | Written by [3] | Original release date [2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "New Babylon" | Francesca Comencini | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | February 13, 2023 |
| 2 | "The Lady" | Francesca Comencini | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | February 13, 2023 |
| 3 | "Nagadoches" | Francesca Comencini | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | February 20, 2023 |
| 4 | "Fountainhead" | Francesca Comencini | Teleplay by : Max Hurwitz Story by : Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli & Max Hurwitz | February 20, 2023 |
| 5 | "Chambersburg" | David Evans | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | February 27, 2023 |
| 6 | "The Trial" | David Evans | Teleplay by : Max Hurwitz Story by : Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli & Max Hurwitz | February 27, 2023 |
| 7 | "The Giant" | David Evans | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | March 6, 2023 |
| 8 | "Tobacco Tin" | Enrico Maria Artale | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | March 6, 2023 |
| 9 | "Masquerade" | Enrico Maria Artale | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | March 13, 2023 |
| 10 | "The Western Sea" | Enrico Maria Artale | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | March 13, 2023 |
Production
editDevelopment
editThe series was announced and commissioned by Sky Italia/Sky Studios and Canal+ in April 2015 as being developed as an Italian-French co-production by Cattleya and Atlantique Productions. It was originally to consist of 12 fifty-minute-long episodes, with the potential for future seasons.[4][5] Maddalena Ravagli wrote a series treatment with Francesco Cenni and Michele Pellegrini loosely based on the 1966 film Django, directed by Sergio Corbucci, and Ravagli went on to create and write the series with Leonardo Fasoli. Francesca Comencini was set to direct the first episodes of the 10-episode series and serve as the artistic director.[6][7]
Casting
editIn February 2021, it was announced that Matthias Schoenaerts had been cast as Django.[1] In May 2021, additional casting was announced including Noomi Rapace, Nicholas Pinnock, and Lisa Vicari, among several more.[7]
Filming
editThe production worked with Bucharest-based Frame Film to coordinate filming in Romania. Initially planned to run from November 2020 to December 2021, preparations for filming actually began in February 2021. The production closed the Racoș (Alsórákos) volcano to outside visitors without advanced notice. This caused a disruption for visitors that had planned visits to the popular tourist destination, only to be turned away by posted signs warning that they could not enter or take photos of the area.[8] Django is the largest television production in Romania,[9] taking advantage of the country's cash rebate incentives and an early re-opening to international productions without quarantine requirements provided COVID-19 vaccinations are complete.[10]
Set design was done by scenographer Paki Meduri, who constructed New Babylon in Racoș using construction methods from the era to create scenery resembling the Old West.[9] The production began filming in May 2021, with filming expected to continue for over six months. Additional filming took place in Bucharest and the Danube area.[11][12]
Release
editThe first two episodes were screened at the Rome Film Festival on October 16, 2022.[13][14][15]
The series premiered on Canal+ in France on February 13, 2023,[16] followed by Sky Atlantic in Italy on February 17, 2023.[17] It later was released on SBS On Demand in Australia on February 23, 2023[18] and on Sky Atlantic in the UK on March 1, 2023.[19]
Reception
editReviewing the show for The Guardian, Rebecca Nicholson called it a gruesome and preposterous Western.[20] Ralph Jones was critical of the series reviewing for NME, saying that it was "wobbly" and the variation of accents from actor to actor was distracting.[21]
References
edit- ^ a b Kanter, Jake (18 February 2021). "Matthias Schoenaerts Cast As Django In Sky/Canal+ Remake Of Classic Italian Western". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ a b "Django TV Show - Season 1 Episodes List - Next Episode". next-episode.net. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ "Django – WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- ^ "Italian cult films 'Django' and Dario Argento's 'Suspiria' to be adapted for television". PopOptiq. 2015-04-09. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick (2015-04-08). "'Django' And Dario Argento's 'Suspiria' To Be Adapted Into International TV Series". Variety. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (18 February 2021). "Matthias Schoenaerts to Play Django in 'Gomorrah' Team's Spaghetti Western Reboot for Sky/Canal+". The Hollywood Reporter. PMRC.
- ^ a b Hopewell, John; Vivarelli, Nick (11 May 2021). "Noomi Rapace, Nicholas Pinnock Join Matthias Schoenaerts in 'Django,' From Sky and Canal Plus (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Luțac, Răzvan (8 May 2021). "Vulcanul de la Racoș nu poate fi vizitat până în 2022: de luni se filmează serialul Django" [The Racoș volcano cannot be visited until 2022: the Django series is being filmed from Monday]. Libertatea (in Romanian).
- ^ a b Vasiliu, Oana (11 May 2021). ""Django" series with Matthias Schoenaerts to start filming in Romania". Business Review.
- ^ Evans, Chris (18 February 2021). "Exclusive: Sky TV series Django to film in Romania from May". KFTV.com. Media Business Insight.
- ^ Dohotariu, Antoaneta (2021-05-17). ""Django" a ajuns în România și se simte ca la mama lui acasă, în Arizona. "Când un film mare vine cu cortul la tine în sat, viața satului se schimbă definitiv" • B365" [Django arrived in Romania and feels like at his mother's home, in Arizona. "When a big movie comes with a tent to your village, the life of the village changes forever"]. B365 (in Romanian).
- ^ FNE Staff (10 May 2021). "Sky TV Series Django Starts Shooting in Romania - FilmNewEurope.com". filmneweurope.com.
- ^ "Day 4 | Screenings – Fondazione Cinema per Roma". Rome Film Festival. 15 October 2022.
- ^ Minniti, Marco (16 October 2022). "Django (2022) - Recensione episodi 1x01 - 1x02 • Asbury Movies". Asbury Movies (in Italian).
- ^ Gargano, Claudio (19 October 2022). "Django – la serie, la recensione: lo show di Sky rispolvera il cult di Corbucci" [Django – the series, the review: the Sky show dusts off Corbucci's cult]. CinemaSerieTV.it (in Italian).
- ^ "Django, la nouvelle série événement démarre sur CANAL+" [Django, the new event series starts on CANAL+]. Le Parisien (in French). February 13, 2023.
- ^ Agyare, Kwabena (January 17, 2023). "Trailer revealed for Sky Original drama Django". Sky Group. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ Skinner, Ben (2023-02-16). "A legend is reborn with a fresh take on a cult classic in 'Django'". SBS. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ "Corrections and clarifications". The Guardian. February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (1 March 2023). "Django review – the new defiantly gruesome western rides into town". The Guardian.
- ^ Jones, Ralph (21 February 2023). "Django review: wobbly Western remake filled with dodgy accents". NME.
