EXCLUSIVE: If you’re a World Cup soccer fan, you’ve probably had a Panini sticker album.
Now, Beta Film is backing a TV series that tells the “remarkable true story of the family behind the world-famous Panini sticker empire.”
Directed by Letizia Lamartire (The Law According to Lidia Poët), Rai‘s The Panini Family – Album of Dreams will follow the family from humble beginnings in war-torn Italy to creating the most famous sticker albums of all time, filled in by millions around the world at every major tournament.
Starting in Italy in 1940 and with little money in their pockets, the Panini family moved to the city of Modena with their eight children. Holding them together is their courageous mother, Olga, who keeps them looking ahead, even when their future is uncertain. Nowadays, the company is a huge conglomerate, making books, comics, magazines, stickers, trading cards and other items.
The six-part series stars Serena Rossi (Diabolik, Mina Settembre), who plays Olga Panini. The cast also includes Simone Liberati (Suburra), Benedetta Cimatti, Federico Cesari (Skam Italia, Everything Calls for Salvation), Luca di Sessa, and Samuele Teneggi (The Good Mothers), with Edoardo Pesce (The Brilliant Friend, Dogman), and with the participation of Barbara Bobulova (Portobello, In Treatment).
The timing of the news is topical with the World Cup final coming up on Sunday. The Panini show may act as a tonic to Italian fans after Italy failed to make the tournament for the third World Cup in a row.
Album of Dreams is the latest in a long line of family dynasty projects that has included House of Guinness and House of Gucci. Beta is distributing internationally and Indigo Film is producing in collaboration with Rai Fiction.
Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.
Comments On Deadline Hollywood are monitored. So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.
Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );