| Django | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Western |
| Created by | Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli |
| Based on | Django bySergio Corbucci |
| Written by |
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| Story by |
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| Directed by | Francesca Comencini David Evans Enrico Maria Artale |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Mokadelic |
| Country of origin |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production location | Romania |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | February 13 (2023-02-13) – March 13, 2023 (2023-03-13) |
Django is aWestern television series created by Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli, directed byFrancesca Comencini and co-produced bySky Atlantic andCanal+. It is an English-language reimagining of the1966 Italian film of the same name bySergio Corbucci. The series, consisting of ten episodes, premiered onCanal+ in France on February 13, 2023,Sky Atlantic in Italy on February 17, 2023, andSky Atlantic in the UK on March 1, 2023.
The series takes place in theOld West of the 1860s–1870s.Django finds his way to New Babylon, a city founded by John Ellis, where all manner of outcasts are welcome regardless of their background or beliefs. Eight years earlier, Django's family was murdered, but he believes that his daughter Sarah survived and has been searching for her ever since. Django finds her in New Babylon, but she is about to marry Ellis. However, Sarah does not want Django to remain in town, fearing that trouble will follow him. Django is determined not to leave her again, and reconnect with his daughter.[1]
| No. | Title [2] | Directed by | Written by [3] | Original release date [2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "New Babylon" | Francesca Comencini | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | February 13, 2023 (2023-02-13) |
| 2 | "The Lady" | Francesca Comencini | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | February 13, 2023 (2023-02-13) |
| 3 | "Nagadoches" | Francesca Comencini | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | February 20, 2023 (2023-02-20) |
| 4 | "Fountainhead" | Francesca Comencini | Teleplay by : Max Hurwitz Story by : Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli & Max Hurwitz | February 20, 2023 (2023-02-20) |
| 5 | "Chambersburg" | David Evans | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | February 27, 2023 (2023-02-27) |
| 6 | "The Trial" | David Evans | Teleplay by : Max Hurwitz Story by : Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli & Max Hurwitz | February 27, 2023 (2023-02-27) |
| 7 | "The Giant" | David Evans | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | March 6, 2023 (2023-03-06) |
| 8 | "Tobacco Tin" | Enrico Maria Artale | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | March 6, 2023 (2023-03-06) |
| 9 | "Masquerade" | Enrico Maria Artale | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | March 13, 2023 (2023-03-13) |
| 10 | "The Western Sea" | Enrico Maria Artale | Leonardo Fasoli & Maddalena Ravagli | March 13, 2023 (2023-03-13) |
The series was announced and commissioned bySky Italia/Sky Studios andCanal+ in April 2015 as being developed as an Italian-French co-production byCattleya and Atlantique Productions. It was originally to consist of 12 fifty-minute-long episodes, with the potential for future seasons.[4][5] Maddalena Ravagli wrote a seriestreatment with Francesco Cenni and Michele Pellegrini loosely based on the 1966 filmDjango, directed bySergio Corbucci, and Ravagli went on to create and write the series with Leonardo Fasoli.Francesca Comencini was set to direct the first episodes of the 10-episode series and serve as the artistic director.[6][7]
In February 2021, it was announced thatMatthias Schoenaerts had been cast asDjango.[1] In May 2021, additional casting was announced includingNoomi Rapace,Nicholas Pinnock, andLisa Vicari, among several more.[7]
The production worked withBucharest-based Frame Film to coordinate filming inRomania. Initially planned to run from November 2020 to December 2021, preparations for filming actually began in February 2021. The production closed theRacoș (Alsórákos) volcano to outside visitors without advanced notice. This caused a disruption for visitors that had planned visits to the popular tourist destination, only to be turned away by posted signs warning that they could not enter or take photos of the area.[8]Django is the largest television production in Romania,[9] taking advantage of the country's cash rebate incentives and an early re-opening to international productions without quarantine requirements providedCOVID-19 vaccinations are complete.[10]
Set design was done byscenographer Paki Meduri, who constructed New Babylon in Racoș using construction methods from the era to create scenery resembling the Old West.[9] The production began filming in May 2021, with filming expected to continue for over six months. Additional filming took place inBucharest and theDanube area.[11][12]
The first two episodes were screened at theRome Film Festival on October 16, 2022.[13][14][15]
The series premiered onCanal+ in France on February 13, 2023,[16] followed bySky Atlantic in Italy on February 17, 2023.[17] It later was released onSBS On Demand in Australia on February 23, 2023[18] and onSky Atlantic in the UK on March 1, 2023.[19]
Reviewing the show forThe Guardian, Rebecca Nicholson called it a gruesome and preposterous Western.[20] Ralph Jones was critical of the series reviewing forNME, saying that it was "wobbly" and the variation of accents from actor to actor was distracting.[21]