The big picture
- The upcoming Netflix series,
The Decameron
promises a unique blend of historical drama and contemporary themes set in plague-era Italy. - The ensemble cast, which includes Tony Hale and Zosia Mamet, will bring a mix of comedic and tragicomic elements to the screen.
- Director Michael Uppendahl ensures cinematic quality in this daring reimagining of Giovanni Boccaccio's classic work for a modern audience.
Netflix is dialing up the drama and dusting off the history books with its upcoming series, The Decameron, which is set to premiere in July 2024, and Netflix is offering a sneak peek at the soapy, silly journey through medieval Italy. Created and executive produced by Kathleen Jordan (Teenage bounty hunters, american princess)and given life under Jenji Kohan's Tilted Productions, The Decameron promises to be a mix of period aesthetics and contemporary themes. The show delves deep into the arrival of the Black Death in Florence in 1348, following a quirky group of nobles and their servants as they escape the chaos of the city for a grand villa in the Tuscan countryside .
What begins as a hedonistic retreat filled with wine and revelry quickly turns into a desperate struggle for survival as social norms crumble and the town becomes a hotbed of intrigue and betrayal. The distribution of the set, with Tony Hale, Zosia Mamet and Saoirse-Monica Jacksonis set to bring a mix of ridiculous and tragicomic elements to the screen, making this no ordinary story of plague-era Europe. Michael Uppendahlknown for his work in fargo i American Crime Storyhe directs four of the eight episodes, including the series' first and last critic, ensuring a cinematic quality that matches the ambitious narrative.
Who is in 'The Decameron'?
The ensemble cast brings together a mix of established and up-and-coming actors. Hale, known for his roles in Veep i Arrested developmentand Mamet of Girls i The flight attendant, they use their comedic chops to play characters who appear aristocratic but are driven by their instinct to survive. They are joined by Jackson, who is best known for her vibrant role in Derry girlsprobably adding his own dynamic energy to the show.
The cast also includes Amar Chadha-Patelpreviously seen in Aladdin, Leila Farzad from I hate Suziei Tanya Reynoldsfrom Sexual Education. Together with Douggie McMeekin, Jessica Plummer, Lou Gala and Karan Gillthey aim to bring to life a portrait of a society on the edge.
Promising to explore themes of class warfare, power struggles and human resilience in times of crisis, The Decameron it doesn't feel like it's just another period drama. It's a bold reimagining by Giovanni Boccaccio classic literary work, adapted for a modern audience all too familiar with the concept of pandemic, if not hedonistic, although who knows what everyone did behind closed doors? As the first look teases, we should be marking our calendars for a summer full of decadence and danger The Decameron.
The Decameron premieres on Netflix in July. Check out the first images above.
