“Gomorrah” prequel series is directed by Marco D’Amore

“Gomorrah,” the gritty Neapolitan mob series that became Italy’s biggest TV export, is back – albeit in a different time frame.

Filming for “Gomorrah – The Series” is scheduled to begin in Naples in early 2025. “The Origins”, the previously announced origin story of the hit crime drama, which will be directed by Marco D’Amore, the actor who played the ruthless protagonist Ciro Di Marzio in the series.

D’Amore, who previously directed several episodes of the series as well as a prequel feature to “Gomorrah” titled “The Immortal” – and subsequently further honed his skills behind the camera by directing the Naples-set films “Napoli Magica” and “Napoli Magica” filmed “Caracas” – officially announced in a video on Tuesday that he will be taking over the direction of this new project diversity has received exclusive access.

“Today I’m here to tell you that we’re finally going to explore the origins of the saga,” D’Amore says in the video, which can be seen above. He stresses that this six-part “Gomorrah” prequel will be firmly “rooted in reality,” just like the hyper-realistic original.

The origin story of “Gomorrah” follows the rise of gangster Pietro Savastano in the 1970s, when the Neapolitan criminal underworld was pervasive but less brutal – more focused on selling contraband cigarettes than selling large amounts of drugs – according to the series’ main producer, Riccardo Tozzi, boss of ITV-owned Cattleya, previously revealed.

“‘Gomorrah the Series’ has now taken on a mythological profile,” Tozzi said in a statement Tuesday, adding that they “had many doubts about revisiting this inimitable theme.”

“But the idea that emerged within the creative group at the origin of the series, together with one of its main characters, Marco, seemed so simple and strong that it convinced us to start again,” Tozzi added.

“In a Naples of yesterday, the young Pietro does not know that he will become Savastano, nor Imma, nor the group of clueless and fun-loving young people who accompany the beginning of his criminal adventure,” Tozzi further explained.

Nils Hartmann, EVP Sky Studios Italy, said: “I am delighted that a talent I admire both as an actor and director is returning to become part of the Gomorrah family – having previously been a protagonist.”

Hartmann added: “We have shared this adventure with Marco from the beginning and I am sure that his vision will bring valuable energy to a new and unprecedented chapter of the saga.” Telling the story of Pietro Savastano’s youth in the prequel will be one be an exciting and extremely ambitious challenge. All of this makes me proud and I can’t wait to see the first snapshot of the clapperboard.”

Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli, who were among the authors of the original “Gomorra” saga, worked on the script together with D’Amore, who also serves as artistic director, and Roberto Saviano, who wrote the best-selling “Neapolitan Mob” exposé , on which the series is based.

Regular D’Amore collaborator Francesco Ghiaccio will direct some episodes of the series.

The prequel’s cast has not yet been announced, but it is expected to feature young, up-and-coming talent from the region, some of whom may be non-professionals.

Gomorrah, which debuted on Sky in 2014, took audiences into the real-life underworld of Neapolitan criminals, thanks in part to the fact that filming took place almost entirely in the actual locations it depicts. In addition to its megahit status in Italy, “Gomorrah” has traveled to 190 countries, including on HBO Max in the US

Just like the original “Gomorrah – The Series. The Origins is produced by Sky Studios and Cattleya, part of ITV Studios, and sold internationally by Beta Film.