Sandokan (2025 TV series)

Last updated

Sandokan
Sandokan 2025 poster.jpeg
Promotional poster
Genre
  • Action
  • drama
Based onthe Sandokan novels
by Emilio Salgari
Developed by
  • Jan Maria Michelini
  • Nicola Abbatangelo
Story by
Directed by
  • Jan Maria Michelini
  • Nicola Abbatangelo
Starring
Theme music composer
ComposerCalibro 35
Country of origin
  • Italy
  • France
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Jan Maria Michelini
  • Daniele Passani
  • Corrado Trionfera
Producers
  • Matilde Bernabei
  • Luca Bernabei
  • Michele Zatta
  • Andrea Ozza
  • Andreana Saint Amour Di Chanaz
Cinematography
Editors
  • Alessio Doglione
  • Melodie Caudal
Production companies
Original release
Network Rai 1
Release1 December 2025 (2025-12-01) –
present
Related
Sandokan (1976)

Sandokan, also known as Sandokan: The Pirate Prince, is a 2025 Italian television series directed by Jan Maria Michelini and Nicola Abbatangelo, based upon the novels of Emilio Salgari featuring the pirate hero Sandokan as well as their 1976 television adaptation which became a classic in Italy. The series is airing on Rai 1 from 1 December 2025 and is also being streamed on Disney+ and Voyo.

Contents

Plot

Borneo, 1841. Sandokan is a pirate who lives his daily life fighting for his freedom and that of his crew together with his faithful friend Yanez de Gomera. His life changes when, during an incursion on the island of Labuan, home of the British consulate, he meets the beautiful and indomitable daughter of the consul, Marianna Guillonk, the "Pearl of Labuan". It is a meeting that will mark the fate of both, leading Sandokan to discover his true identity and embrace a greater mission and Marianna to understand the price of true freedom, very different from what she imagined. However, between the two comes Lord James Brooke, a formidable pirate hunter, ready to do anything to capture Sandokan and win Marianna's heart.

Production

Development and casting

Production company Lux Vide announced the series on 26 May 2022 and selected Can Yaman to play the titular character and Luca Argentero as Yanez. [1] The miniseries was the idea of Lux Vide CEO Luca Bernabei, and its distribution arrangement outside of Italy is held with Fremantle, its parent company. In Spain, Mediaset España holds the rights instead. [2]

On 18 April 2024, Variety reported that several big name actors (Ed Westwick, John Hannah, Alanah Bloor) had joined Can Yaman as part of the pool of actors in the new miniseries. [2] Argentero was replaced by Alessandro Preziosi in the role of Yanez. [3]

Filming

Filming started on 22 April 2024 in Formello, near Rome, where Lux Vide opened its new studio complex. The series was also shot in other locations in Lazio, Tuscany and Calabria; the latter region was where Labuan was recreated, using funds from the Calabria Film Commission. [2] Filming in Calabria started on 27 May, following the building of an industrial backlot in the city of Lamezia Terme. Local shooting started in Le Castella, Capo Rizzuto, Crotone. [3]

A preview was shown on 28 February 2025 during Fremantle Presents, Fremantle's upfront event at the London TV Screenings. [4] [5]

On 24 June 2025, the series was presented at the Italian Global Series Festival in Riccione. [6]

Broadcast

The eight episodes of the series are airing in Italy on Rai 1 and RaiPlay over four weeks from 1 December 2025. Following the the original run, the series will be streamed on Disney+, which will ease its international distribution. [7]

In Portugal, the series is airing on AXN in December. It was previewed locally at Tribeca Festival Lisboa in October, where Ed Westwick was present. [8]

Rights are held by Central European Media Enterprises in former Yugoslav countries and is available on the Voyo service. [9] [10]

Cast

Soundtrack

The musical score for the series was assigned to and performed by Italian band Calibro 35. For the opening theme, the group chose to cover the popular theme from the 1976 series, composed by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis (aka Oliver Onions), which remained widely associated with Sandokan among Italians. [11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Lux Vide to produce a Sandokan TV Series". Lux Vide. 26 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Vivarelli, Nick (18 April 2024). "Ed Westwick, John Hannah, Alanah Bloor Join Turkish Star Can Yaman in 'Sandokan' TV Series Reboot as Production Starts (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety .
  3. 1 2 "Sandokan is here!". Calabria Film Commission. 27 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Sandokan ai London TV Screenings: Variety svela il dietro le quinte della serie più attesa dell'anno". Lux Vide (in Italian). 21 February 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  5. ↑ Bleasdale, John (21 February 2025). "'Sandokan' Sails Again: Lux Vide Revives the Legendary Pirate, Showcased at Fremantle Presents at the London Screenings". Variety . Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "'Sandokan' all'IGSF di Riccione, in anteprima teaser trailer e teaser poster". Lux Vide (in Italian). 24 June 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  7. ↑ Cristilli, Riccardo (1 December 2025). "Sandokan, la serie tv con Can Yaman dal 1° dicembre su Rai 1 e poi su Disney+". dituttounpop (in Italian). Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  8. ↑ Sousa, Matilde (10 October 2025). "Nova série de Can Yaman está quase a chegar à TV portuguesa". Magazine HD (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  9. ↑ "Spektakularen povratek legende: Sandokan jutri prihaja na VOYO". 24UR (in Slovenian). 1 December 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Najseksepilniji pirat svih vremena Sandokan stiže 2. prosinca na platformu Voyo!". net.hr (in Croatian). 24 November 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  11. ↑ Bigi, Emanuele (17 October 2025). "Sandokan è tornato e, con lui, anche la mitica sigla degli Oliver Onions riarrangiata dai Calibro 35". GQ Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 4 December 2025.
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