Legendary film actor Peter O'Toole and rising star
David Tennant lead a stellar cast in the title role
of Russell T Davies' major three-part event drama Casanova from Red
Production Company for 91热爆 THREE.
The announcement was made by Jane Tranter, 91热爆 Controller of Drama
Commissioning, at an event in Manchester to launch the 91热爆's forthcoming
season of autumn dramas.
Tennant plays the 18th century character as a young man whose extraordinary
life takes him from Venice across Europe - much of it as a fugitive,
an outlaw for 'offences' against government and church.
O'Toole plays the older Casanova as he relives his adventures to his
fellow servant Edith, alone in a castle in 1798 - and discovers new
love.
Casanova also stars Rose Byrne as Edith; Rupert
Penry-Jones as the Duke of Grimani, Casanova's arch-rival;
Laura Fraser is Henriette, Casanova's one true love.
Nina Sosanya is Bellino, a woman who dresses as a
castrato man in order to become a successful singer, and with whom Casanova
falls in love; and Matt Lucas is Villiers, a gay Venetian
Duke.
"I took this as a chance to reinvigorate period drama, and to tell
a dazzling and very funny story," says Russell T Davies.
"We're bringing back to life, for three hours, a truly remarkable man,
and a genuine legend.
"When I sat down to read Casanova's autobiography - all 12 volumes
of it! - I discovered that our modern-day impression of a lascivious,
misogynist man is hopelessly wrong.
"He's been filtered down through the centuries as a bastard. I
wanted to rescue him, to show what he was really like.
"This man genuinely loved women, and respected them with an astonishingly
modern mentality.
"And never mind the serial shagger - I also discovered that, outside
his love life, Casanova was a wonderful, barmy, inventive man.
"And what a fraud! Like an 18th century Jeffrey Archer, but funny.
He wasn't born an aristocrat, he lied his way into jobs and positions
of power with charm and cheek. He's just irresistible."
Casanova starts filming at the beginning of October in and around Manchester,
and on location in Dubrovnik and Venice.
Stuart Murphy, Controller of 91热爆 THREE, says: "91热爆 THREE is unique
in the multi-channel world for its commitment to independent, British-made
drama.
"Casanova is an extraordinarily inventive and inspired drama from
one of British television's best screen-writers.
"It crowns a string of new dramas for the channel, following the
critically-acclaimed Bodies earlier this year.
"This autumn sees the start of Steve Coombes' darkly comic legal
drama Outlaws and - also from Red - Bill Gallagher's six-part thriller
Conviction."
Red Production Company's Nicola Shindler says: "I am delighted that
Red was asked by Michele Buck and Damien Timmer to make Casanova, giving
us a chance to work with Russell again and be a part of such an extraordinary
project.
"We've never made a period drama before and intend to bring our
key Red sensibilities - quality of script, cast, an innovative visual
design and photography - to the project.
"As with all Red's work we hope to make Casanova provocative,
funny and ground-breaking. We also look forward to continuing our creative
relationship with 91热爆 THREE."
Casanova was originally developed for ITV by Michele Buck, Damien Timmer
and Julie Gardner (before her move from LWT to become Head of Drama
for 91热爆 Wales).
"There was an over-commitment to period drama at ITV at that time,"
says Michele Buck.
"The natural home for the project was the 91热爆 as Jane Tranter had the
vision to realise it in its larger format."
Jane Tranter, 91热爆 Controller of Drama Commissioning, says:
"While the ITV network wanted Casanova to be a single piece, we were
keen to do what Russell wanted to do - to make it a more expansive,
three-part serial journey which is raunchy, modern and relevant - and
to enable Julie Gardner, Head of Drama for 91热爆 Wales, to continue an
ongoing relationship with Russell T Davies on two projects: Casanova
and Doctor Who."
Casanova is a Red Production in association with Granada for 91热爆 Wales
for 91热爆 THREE.
The producer is Gill McNeill (Vanity Fair) and the director is Sheree
Folkson (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Burn It).
The executive producers are Michele Buck, Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner,
Nicola Shindler and Damien Timmer.
Peter O'Toole was last seen in the epic feature Troy - this is his
first role for the 91热爆 since the early Nineties.
David Tennant is shortly to be seen as DI Carlisle in Peter Bowker's
six-part drama Blackpool for 91热爆 ONE, and was Mr Gibson in He Knew He
Was Right earlier this year.
Rose Byrne stars in Wicker Park, which is currently on general release,
and was also in Troy and I Capture The Castle.
Laura Fraser stars in Red's forthcoming thriller Conviction for 91热爆
THREE and recently played Emily Trevelyan in He Knew He Was Right.
Nina Sosanya was Jenny Paige in Channel 4's Teachers, and Rupert Penry-Jones
is about to be seen as MI5's Adam Carter in the new series of Spooks,
coming soon to 91热爆 ONE.
Matt Lucas is best known for his roles in Little Britain opposite David
Walliams.
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