Well-established Italian producers Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Mieli — who left their Fremantle-owned banners, Wildside and The Apartment, respectively, earlier this yr — are returning to the growing TV and film powerhouse with their latest scripted outfit.
The duo — who co-founded “The Young Pope” and “My Sensible Friend” production house Wildside in 2009 before Mieli exited to establish The Apartment, which was behind the recent hit “Priscilla” — are yet to disclose details of their latest company. However the pair have now signed a co-production cope with Fremantle that may see them collaborate on several projects.
Amongst those in production and post-production from the 2 producers are Paolo Sorrentino’s latest film, Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Limonov -The Ballad,” “Queer” by Luca Guadagnino starring Daniel Craig, the brand new film by Gabriele Mainetti, “Maria” by Pablo Larraín starring Angelina Jolie, plus the TV series “M. The Son of the Century” by Joe Wright and “Il Mostro” by Stefano Sollima.
“Working with Fremantle for the last 14 years has been a hugely vital, exciting and great adventure,” said Gianani and Miele in a press release. “We put all our energy and keenness to contribute to creating Fremantle a successful hub of modern and provocative creativity, and we’re grateful for the support, freedom and trust Fremantle has given us.”
The pair added: “This latest entrepreneurial adventure fills our desire for brand spanking new challenges and goals, and we’re pleased and proud to announce this deal that may allow us to proceed producing with Fremantle on extraordinary movies and series as we’ve done over time. We wish to thank all of the lots of of individuals we worked with inside Fremantle. And a special because of Andrea Scrosati, without whom a lot of our achievements, including this deal, would have never been possible.”
Fremantle, meanwhile, have announced Gianani and Mieli’s successors at The Apartment and Wildside, which is able to each proceed to have editorial autonomy.
Annamaria Morelli, a longtime film and TV producer who has worked with Rai, Mediaset and TimVision with credits including “My Sensible Friend” and “Killing Eve,” has been named CEO of The Apartment. Sonia Rovai, who spent a few years at Sky working on shows akin to “Gomorra,” “The Young Pope,” “Zero Zero Zero” and “Call My Agent,” has been promoted from managing director of Wildside to CEO.
“Annamaria Morelli and Sonia Rovai have vision, experience and keenness. I’m so pleased to welcome them to The Apartment and Wildside, two labels which have attracted a few of one of the best talent, each Italian and international,” said Andrea Scrosati, group COO and CEO of continental Europe for Fremantle. “We’re and can proceed to be the place creatives wish to call home. A spot where you possibly can express your creativity by experimenting and innovating with freedom and independence, but additionally with the elemental support of a world group akin to Fremantle. A formula that I’m sure will guarantee Morelli and Rovai the conditions to create latest great successes.”
