Netflix's Italian Period Drama 'The Leopard' to Roar Onto Screens in March
The success of Netflix's slate of international originals continues to grow in recent months, with hits like the German drama The Empress, the Norwegian series La Palma, and, of course, the Korean language juggernaut that is Squid Game. The streamer is clearly hoping for similar mainstream success with its forthcoming Italian period drama The Leopard, which will reportedly premiere in March.
Based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s 1958 novel, Il Gattopardo, the story is set in the author's native Sicily during the late nineteenth century. The story follows the fictional Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, and his aristocratic family through the social upheaval of the Risorgimento.
Don Fabrizio leads a life of wealth and privilege, but when the possible unification of Italy threatens the established social order, he breaks with tradition to secure his family's security. He arranges a marriage between his nephew Tancredi and the wealthy middle-class daughter of an influential Sicilian citizen, all while knowing his decision will break the heart of his beloved daughter Concetta. Major themes of the book include the inevitable tension between life, mortality, decay, eternity, and legacy.
