Modern producer Nils Hartmann has stepped down as executive vp of Sky Studios Italy, following a 23-year stint on the Comcast-owned pay-TV service during which he shepherded many Italian TV series that made their mark around the globe.
In his capability as director of original productions at Sky Italia, Nils Hartmann spearheaded the creation of shows which have taken Italian TV to the following level, including “Romanzo Criminale” (“Crime Novel”); the gritty “Gomorrah” franchise, which is Italy’s all-time top TV export; Paolo Sorrentino’s outrageously fun “The Young Pope”; Stefano Sollima’s cocaine trafficking drama “ZeroZeroZero”; finance-world thriller “Devils,” starring Patrick Dempsey and Alessandro Borghi; and the Joe Wright-directed drama series “Mussolini: Son of the Century.”
Probably the most recent Sky Italia project greenlit under Hartmann’s watch is the six-episode series “Gucci: Game Over,” directed by Gabriele Muccino, which is currently shooting. It has been described by Hartmann as Italy’s response to Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” movie, which didn’t sit well with a big a part of Italy’s film community that felt the film was full of negative Italian stereotypes and in addition lamented it didn’t feature any local talents in lead roles.
Emanuele Marchesi, former head of development at Sky Studios Italia, will step into Hartmann’s role effective Aug. 1. Marchesi will report back to Giuseppe De Bellis, who’s Sky Italia’s EVP of sport, news and entertainment. Marchesi may even liaise closely with Cécile Frout-Coutaz, who leads Sky Studios on the group level.
In a press release, Sky Italia and Sky Group thanked Nils Hartmann “for his creative contributions, commitment, and professionalism throughout his long profession,” wishing him all the most effective for the brand new unspecified challenges “that await him going forward.”