The TV series The Count of Monte Cristo, directed by Bille August and starring Sam Claflin (Peaky Blinders), is achieving impressive ratings in Italy. The adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic has garnered an average 26% primetime share on RAI, Italy’s state broadcaster.
The first episode of the high-budget series, shot in locations including Paris, Torino, Rome, and Malta, aired on RAI’s flagship station RAI-1. It attracted over 5 million viewers, peaking at more than 32% of Italy’s total TV audience. This marks RAI’s highest-rated TV series in almost a year.
Claflin plays Edmond Dantes, a young sailor wrongly accused of treason and imprisoned at the Château d’If. After escaping, Dantes seeks revenge. Jeremy Irons portrays Abbé Faria, Dantes’ mentor in prison. The ensemble cast includes Ana Girardot, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Blake Ritson, Karla-Simone Spence, Michele Riondino, Lino Guanciale, Gabriella Pession, and Nicolas Maupas.
The series is produced by Palomar, a part of French media company Mediawan, in collaboration with DEMD Productions for France Télévisions and RAI. It is distributed by Mediawan Rights.
Carlo Degli Esposti, Palomar’s chief, expressed pride in the success of the series. “Together with RAI, we took a gamble that has clearly paid off,” he said. “Once again, the audience has rewarded compelling storytelling, and our effort to adapt classic literature in a way that resonates with a broad audience.”
Degli Esposti also highlighted the international nature of the project: “This is a truly international series, led by an Italian producer, featuring a renowned Danish director, and an exceptional cast. It respects Dumas’ masterpiece while offering a fresh take.”
The enduring popularity of The Count of Monte Cristo is evident. A recent nearly three-hour film adaptation, directed by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte, grossed nearly 10 million admissions in France, making it one of the country’s top box-office successes in 2024.
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