ROME — “The Leopard,” a forthcoming Netflix series, reimagines the iconic Italian novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, portraying the challenges faced by the aristocracy in 19th-century Sicily amid revolutionary social transformations that signal the decline of their privileged existence.
Helming four of the series’ eight episodes, Tom Shankland courageously offers his own take on one of Italy’s most treasured cinematic works. The 1963 film version, directed by Luchino Visconti and featuring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, and Claudia Cardinale, is a beloved masterpiece that earned the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
An Italian critic has compared Shankland’s endeavor to attempting a serial adaptation of “Gone with the Wind” in the United States, yet Shankland remains unfazed. Driven by his enthusiasm for the project, his passion is deeply rooted in his childhood memories of the novel and his travel experiences in Sicily, influenced by his father, a professor of Italian literature.
The narrative centers around Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, a distinguished and affluent figurehead, who commands vast estates across Sicily. His way of life faces upheaval with the 1860 invasion of Sicily by Giuseppe Garibaldi, leading to the toppling of the Bourbon rule in Naples and the Unification of Italy.
The Prince’s family revels in opulence within their grand palaces, attended by devoted servants and peasants, enjoying extravagant feasts and glamorous balls alongside fellow aristocrats. Shankland’s adaptation is a visual splendor, featuring sumptuous banquets and intricate costumes, while modern drone footage captures the grandeur of the Sicilian landscape and historic events.
The series, shot in splendid palaces located in Palermo, Siracusa, and Catania, also includes the celebrated ballroom scene where the Prince dances with Angelica, filmed at the Grand Plaza Hotel’s ballroom in Rome.
Central to the storyline is the Prince’s favored nephew, Tancredi, an orphan who’s embraced by the family but shocks them by aligning with Garibaldi’s forces. Saul Nanni steps into the role once played by Delon, expressing the honor he feels portraying such an iconic character.
While Tancredi appears destined for Concetta, the Prince’s cherished eldest daughter, the arrival of the enchanting Angelica disrupts expectations. Angelica, portrayed by Deva Cassel, is the daughter of the town’s newly affluent mayor. Cassel, a model turned actor and daughter of Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel, shares the challenges and excitement in integrating herself into such a significant part.
“Portraying Angelica and following in Claudia Cardinale’s footsteps was an enormous honor,” Cassel comments, emphasizing the thrill and pressure of being part of such a large-scale production.
Angelica and Concetta, played by Benedetta Porcaroli, grace the production wearing opulent costumes, emphasizing their roles within the historical setting. Cassel noticed the stark difference between contemporary attire and the restrictive historical costumes, finding the latter significantly altering her physique during filming.
“Wearing those tight bodices for six months in Sicilian heat was transformative,” Cassel explains. “I think I lost some waist inches due to the physical demands and learned how to adapt to the dance movements required.”
The novel, its cinematic precursor, and now the series, which will premiere on Netflix on March 5, focus on the Prince’s internal conflict with the shifting societal norms and his dwindling control over political and personal domains.
“His situation deeply resonated with me,” notes Kim Rossi Stuart, who captures the role with grace and natural stature. “The portrayal of an era’s end really struck a chord, as well as the Prince’s personal and political decline.”
