Everything you need to know about Mussolini: Son of the Century
Mussolini: Son of the Century is a bold, new, landmark Sky Original drama series based on Antonio Scurati’s Premio Strega-winning and international bestselling novel.
The eight-part series chronicles the birth of fascism in Italy and the rise to power of Duce Benito Mussolini.
Starting with the founding of Fasci Italiani in 1919, Mussolini: Son of the Century follows through to Mussolini’s infamous speech in parliament following the murder of socialist MP Giacomo Matteotti in 1925.
The series will also provide viewers with an insight into Mussolini and his personal relationships, including with his wife Rachele, his lover Margherita Sarfatti, and with other iconic figures from the time.
Like the novel, the series will tell the history of a country that surrendered to dictatorship and the story of a man who was able to rise from his ashes time and again.
Who is Benito Mussolini?
Benito Mussolini was born in 1883 and has become famed in history as an Italian dictator after founding the National Fascist Party.
He was Prime Minister of Italy from 1922 to 1925, before becoming their ‘il Duce’ as a fascist dictator of the country. His rule was noted as an inspiration behind Adolf Hitler’s rule and plans for Germany with the Nazi Party.
He was eventually deposed during World War II in 1943, but remained a ruler of Italian fascism until his death in 1945.
He is credited as being responsible for the international spread of the fascist movement during his reign - particularly between the end of World War I in 1918, and the start of World War II in 1939.
He was initially a journalist, and even had socialist leanings in his early political career, but was booted from the Italian Socialist Party after advocating for military intervention in World War I. He later served in the military before being sent home from combat in 1917 after getting injured, and on his return denounced the Socialist Party in favour of radical nationalism.
After being appointed Prime Minister after the March on Rome in March 1922, he transformed Italy into a one-party dictatorship with the aim to create a totalitarian state.
During World War II, he allied with Germany, believing them to have a strong demographic and people compared to the ageing population of Britain and France.
In May 1939, Mussolini and Adolf Hitler signed the Pact of Steel, committing Italy and Germany to provide military and economic support should a war occur. World War II’s official start date has been noted as that September.
Mussolini was deposed by Italian King Victor Emmanuel III in 1943.
Two years later, with the end of the war near, Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, attempted to flee to safety through Switzerland, with plans to board a plane to Spain.
However, they were stopped by Lake Como by communist partisans and identified, arrested, and executed a day later, despite specific instructions to turn him over to Allied forces and the United Nations for his war crimes.
His body, along with those who tried to flee with him, was strung up and displayed publicly at the old Piazzale Loreto in Milan to prove he was dead.
Who stars in Mussolini: Son of the Century?
Mussolini: Son of the Century is comprised of a largely Italian cast.
The main stars of the series are:
Luca Marinelli (Every Blessed Day, The Great Beauty) as Benito Mussolini
Francesco Russo (Call My Agent Italia, My Brilliant Friend) as Cesare Rossi
Barbara Chichiarelli (Antonia, The Good Mothers) as Margherita Sarfatti
Benedetta Cimatti (Circeo, Inspector Coliandro) as Donna Rachele
Federico Majorana (Outline, Bad Tales) as Amerigo Dumini
Gaetano Bruno (Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Fargo) as Giacomo Matteotti
Fulvio Falzarano (The Red Door, The Space Between) as Giovanni Giolitti
Massimo De Lorenzo (Ripley, The Lions of Sicily) as Alfredo Rocco
Lorenzo Zurzolo (Diabolik: Who Are You?, Prisma) as Italo Balbo
Vincenzo Nemolato (La Chimera, Supersex) as Victor Emmanuel III
Gianmarco Vettori (Padrenostro, Shoshana) as Dino Grandi
Gabriele Falsetta (My Name is Vendetta, Monterossi) as Roberto Farinacci
Maurizio Lombardi (The New Pope, Citadel: Diana) as Emilio De Bono
Daniele Trombetti (Inspector Montalbano, The Stalker) as Cesare Forni
Gianluca Gobbi (Dogman, Carlo & Malik) as Cesare Maria de Vecchi
Alberto Astorri (Robbing Mussolini, Rose Island) as Luigi Facta
Paolo Pierobon (The Girl From Tomorrow, 1993) as Gabriele D'Annunzio
Federico Mainardi (Perfetta Illusione) as Albino Volpi
What is the age rating of Mussolini: Son of the Century?
Mussolini: Son of the Century has not yet been officially rated by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification).
Check back here to get more information as it becomes available.
How to watch Mussolini: Son of the Century on Sky
Mussolini: Son of the Century is available to watch now on Sky Atlantic and NOW.