In a major shakeup within the entertainment industry, prominent Italian producers Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Mieli are exiting their respective Fremantle-owned companies, Wildside and The Apartment. The decision is expected to pave the way for the formation of a new independent scripted content outfit, jointly headed by Gianani and Mieli.
Gianani and Mieli co-founded Wildside in 2009, effectively transforming it into a powerhouse responsible for producing global hit dramas such as 'The Young Pope' and 'My Brilliant Friend,' which aired on RAI and HBO. In 2015, Wildside was acquired by Fremantle, a move that solidified their presence in the international television market.
Following this acquisition, Mieli ventured out on his own and established The Apartment in 2020, operating under the Fremantle umbrella. The Apartment quickly gained recognition for its titles, including 'Priscilla' directed by Sofia Coppola and the upcoming Angelina Jolie-led film 'Maria,' which focuses on the iconic soprano Maria Callas. Alongside these projects, The Apartment boasts an impressive international slate of content.
The departure of Gianani and Mieli from their current roles at Wildside and The Apartment is reported to be amicable, as confirmed by a spokesperson for Fremantle Italy. The spokesperson also revealed ongoing discussions about future collaborations between the departing producers and Fremantle. While an official statement is forthcoming, it is apparent that this split leaves both Wildside and The Apartment with a wealth of Fremantle-owned intellectual property and projects at various stages of development, albeit without the visionary leaders who guided those ventures.
It is worth noting that both Wildside and The Apartment, along with their respective slates of projects, are fully owned by Fremantle. Consequently, Gianani and Mieli will likely remain involved in the more significant existing projects in collaboration with Fremantle. However, reports suggest that the pair are set to establish another company backed by an undisclosed investment fund. While this arrangement may offer them greater potential profit margins, it also comes with heightened risks.
Some notable achievements by Wildside include the 2023 Italian box office success 'There's Still Tomorrow,' which even surpassed the popularity of 'Barbie' in local theaters. Additionally, the company produced the critically acclaimed arthouse hit 'The Eight Mountains' and contributed to the Disney+ series 'The Good Mothers,' now available for streaming on Hulu. Another Wildside production of relevance is 'Finally Dawn' by Saverio Costanzo, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and is believed to have exceeded its budget.
As for The Apartment, its recent output encompasses Pietro Castellitto's film 'Enea,' which premiered at the Venice Film Festival but received mixed results in Italian cinemas. Notably, the company also has an exciting lineup of upcoming projects, including Luca Guadagnino's much-anticipated adaptation of William Burroughs' work titled 'Queer,' starring Daniel Craig.
The departure of Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Mieli from Wildside and The Apartment marks a significant transition in the Italian entertainment landscape. Their collaboration brought forth remarkable achievements, and their new venture is eagerly anticipated by industry insiders. As details regarding their new independent company and collaborations with Fremantle emerge, the industry will surely be abuzz with speculation and excitement.
