Ferrante Novels to Become an HBO Series

Casting calls are under way for a new 32-part italian television series with english subtitles entitled the neapolitan novels, based on elena Ferrante’s critically acclaimed tetralogy including My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, and The Story of the Lost Child.

Detail of the cover "My Brilliant Friend"

The Mystery Behind Ferrante

It is an original series for HBO and RAI, italy’s national public broadcasting company, produced by italian production companies wildside and Fandango. There is a lot of mystery behind the author of these novels becaus “Elena Ferrante” is indeed the pseudonym of a yet unknown italian novelist. Ferrante has kept her identity secret since the publication of her rst novel in 1992 but that hasn’t stopped the success of her wildly popular books. She was even named one of the 100 most in uential people on the planet by time magazine last year. 

It’s her literary reality that counts

Saverio Costanzo, the roman film director who is working on bringing the famous series to life recently told the New York Times that he wasn’t interested in the author’s true identity and that “it’s her literary reality that counts.” For Costanzo, it doesn’t matter who she really is because his biggest preoccupation is guring out a way “to convey the same emotions as the books in a cinematographic way.” he hopes to do so by communicating with Ferrante via email so that she will be able to directly contribute to the screenplay. the director is best know for the lms Private and Hungry Hearts.

Shot in Naples?

Locations have yet to be chosen but the campania Film commission hopes the whole series can be lmed in naples, the italian city where all of the novels take place. casting director laura Muccino is currently seeking actresses to play the leading roles of Elena and Lila, characters who have developed a cult international following throughout the years. For those who are eagerly anticipating the series premiere, the rst season is expected to air in the fall of 2018.