Actor Luca Marinelli leads the cast as the Italy’s fascist dictator. 

We love history here at CultBox Towers and there’s something compelling about the stories of how dictators rose to power.

It’s doubtless why we’re addicted to Paul McGann’s podcast on the subject. While Real Dictators has yet to tackle however is Benito Mussolini, the Italian fascist leader is the subject of Sky’s new project M. Son of the Century.

The show, from director Joe Wright (Darkest Hour, Atonement) and based Antonio Scurati’s bestseller, will chart Mussolini’s rise. In the lead role, Luca Marinelli (The Old Guard) plays Benito Mussolini.

Here’s the premise for M. Son of the Century:

The eight-part series will cover the period from the founding of Fasci Italiani in 1919 through to Mussolini’s infamous speech in parliament following the murder of socialist MP Giacomo Matteotti in 1925.

The series will also provide viewers with an insight into Mussolini and his personal relationships, including with his wife Rachele, his lover Margherita Sarfatti, and with other iconic figures from the time. Like the novel, the series will tell the history of a country that surrendered to dictatorship and the story of a man who was able to rise from his ashes time and again.

The show’s writers are Stefano Bises (Gomorrah, The New Pope) and Davide Serino. It promises to maintain historical accuracy, with every event, character, dialogue and speech documented or witnessed by multiple sources.

Further series?

Interestingly, there’s currently a second and third book in the series which takes the story up to 1940.

Filming begins on the show at the famous Cinecittà Studios in the next few weeks, with Wright directing all eight episodes. Sky Studios produce with Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle company, in collaboration with Pathé.

M. Son of the Century will air on Sky Atlantic and streamer NOW, with Fremantle handling international distribution.