Photo of Maurizio Gucci and Patricia Reggiani
The Guccis are set to tell their side of their familial history, just three months after the theatrical release of director Ridley Scott’s divisive biopic about them, House of Gucci. The family is creating a dramatic narrative television show and docuseries with Sky Studios, Variety is reporting.
Italian film and television producer, Marco Belardi brought the narrative show and docuseries to the production company about a year ago, on behalf of Leone Film Group. Sky Studios is now in the early stages of development on the narrative show, and in pre-production on the docuseries.
The initial discussion between Belardi and Sky Studios led to an agreement with several members of the Gucci family, including Alessandro Gucci, Guccio Gucci Jr. and Giorgio Gucci. The latter member of the family, who’s a young, up-and-coming producer, will serve as an executive producer on the still-untitled docuseries, which will potentially air next year.
The Guccis’ involvement on the television projects comes after Scott and his fellow filmmakers on House of Gucci allegedly didn’t meet with any members of the family to form the film’s plot
For the planned narrative show, which will use the docseries as its inspiration, Sky Studios is also in talks to work with David Flynn of the Los Angeles-based production company, Wiip. The company is looking to hire an international writer to work with Italian scribes on the show.
Both television projects will tell “the story of a great family and a great brand” from their perspective, said producer Nils Hartmann, senior VP for Sky Studios Germany and Italy.
“It’s clear that this is a project that stems from Italy, but is intended for play across all Sky territories,” Hartmann added. Besides Italy, the production company operates in the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
When House of Gucci was theatrically released in November, the titular family, who are the heirs of Aldo Gucci, the chairman of the Gucci fashion house from 1953 to 1986, issued a statement detailing their disdain for the biographical crime drama. They claim they’re inaccurately portrayed in the movie, so they hope to set the record straight about their family’s legacy in the two upcoming television projects.
House of Gucci focuses on the murder of Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver), which was contracted by his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani (portrayed by Lady Gaga). However, the Sky Studios televisions projects will “narrate the epic of a family that started with a gentleman in Florence who, by chance, made some handbags with bamboo handles that made history and brought the Gucci brand in the U.S.,” Hartmann revealed.
During the mid-late 1940s, in the aftermath of World War II, when leather was scarce, Guccio Gucci Sr. and his Florentine artisans decided to use lightweight, durable bamboo for the handle of a new bag. The product became popular among Hollywood’s leading women and the international upper class, which led to the company’s long-running success.