Left Bank Pictures Announce The Aurelio Zen Mysteries

LEFT BANK PICTURES ANNOUNCE THE AURELIO ZEN MYSTERIES – AN INTERNATIONAL CO PRODUCTION STARRING RUFUS SEWELL

Three films based on the best-selling novels by Michael Dibdin

RUFUS SEWELL (Middlemarch, The Eleventh Hour) is to star as the fictional Italian detective Aurelio Zen in three new feature length dramas to be released in the UK on BBC One through BBC Scotland.

Left Bank Pictures will produce the three films for the BBC in association with RTI (Mediaset Group), MASTERPIECE on PBS and ZDF with additional funding from BBC Worldwide, Ingenious and Lipsync.

BBC Worldwide is brokering the international partnership deals and also looking to distribute the three films internationally on all platforms, including theatrically.

Set in and around Rome, and based on the best-selling series of novels by the late Michael Dibdin, Zen will start shooting in Italy in Spring 2010.

Sewell said: “I’m thrilled to be a part of this project with the opportunity to play such an intriguing, complex and likeable character.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning added : “Rufus Sewell will bring passion and intrigue to BBC One as Italian detective Aurelio Zen. Set in contemporary Rome and from the producers behind the BAFTA award winning Wallander, I hope Michael Dibdin’s books will captivate audiences.”

Giancarlo Scheri, RTI (Mediaset Group) Fiction Director, said: “We are very proud of this project, our first co production with the BBC. We will contribute to shooting with Italian actors and troupe, in order to create an excellent product that will combine Italian style and international best-selling novels.”

“This is a project made up of old friends,” says MASTERPIECE on PBS Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton. “We introduced Rufus Sewell to an American audience in Middlemarch; we co-produced Wallander with Left Bank Pictures and we’ve partnered with the BBC for nearly 40 years. I’m really excited that we’re all back together on Aurelio Zen.”

Andy Harries, Chief Executive Of Left Bank Pictures: “The Dibdin novels are much loved and they are great detective stories which are both very entertaining and full of insight into Italian life. Zen is handsome, humorous and romantic and Rufus Sewell is the perfect choice to play Didbin’s delightful creation. People love to see Italy on screen and there is a huge appetite for Italian style and culture.”

The series will be based and shot in Rome and will feature many of the combined attractions of Italy and the Dibdin novels – thrilling investigations, fun, warmth and beautiful people. John Alexander (Small island, Sense and Sensibility) will direct the opening film which will be one of Dibdin’s very best novels – Vendetta adapted by Simon Burke (Sons and Lovers, White Teeth). Simon who lives in Perugia with his family is also writing Cabal and Peter Berry is collaborating with Simon on Ratking. The Producer is Michael Casey (My Boy Jack, Father and Son) with Andy Harries and Francis Hopkinson as Executive Producers for Left Bank Pictures, Raffaella Bonivento for RTI (Mediaset Group), Rebecca Eaton for MASTERPIECE on PBS and Anne Mensah for BBC Scotland. The Rome based De Angelis Group will provide production services for the Italian shoot.

Michael Dibdin lived in Italy for many years and had 11 Zen books published which continue to entertain readers around the world. He died three years ago. His novels won many awards including the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger for Ratking.

Left Bank Pictures is an independent film and television production company founded in July 2007 whose productions include the movie The Damned United, as well as the acclaimed BBC series Wallander – their first drama production and the winner of five BAFTA Awards in 2009 including Best Drama Series.

For further information please contact:
Ian Johnson Publicity
020 7836 3030 / 07711 118 019
info@ianjohnsonpublicity.co.uk