Sandokan returns to TV after 50 years with Can Yaman: curiosities to know, from the locations to the book that inspired it

Fifty years after the famous Rai series of 1976 with Kabir Bedi, Sandokan, the Tiger of Mompracem, returns to the small screen in a new modern production which will debut this evening, 1 December, on Rai 1, in four consecutive first evenings. The series, created in collaboration with Lux Vide and Rai Fiction, brings to the screen an international cast led by Can Yaman in the role of the legendary pirate.

History and literary inspiration

The project originates from the novels of Emilio Salgari, a Veronese writer who created the character of Sandokan at the end of the 19th century. The original novel The tigers of Mompracem it was published in installments in 1883 and marked an unprecedented success for the time. Salgari, despite never having visited Asia, precisely documented every geographical, botanical and zoological detail, transforming his works into an authentic mix of adventure, information and fantasy.

The new series aims to retrace the myth of the pirate and at the same time introduce narrative innovations, such as a setting in 1841, eight years earlier than the novels, and greater complexity in the relationships between the characters, including the love between Sandokan and Marianna.

Production news

The new adaptation is not a simple remake, but a contemporary reboot that reinvents some historical dynamics and relationships between the characters. The screenplay was edited by Alessandro Sermoneta, Claudio F. Benedetti, Giacomo Bisanti, Federico Gnesini and Valentina Strada.

The story focuses on Sandokan’s growth from a pirate without rules to a revolutionary hero, including boardings, battles against colonial power and complex moral choices. The relationship between Sandokan and Yanez has also been updated, maintaining their brotherhood but introducing a subtle emotional ambiguity that will develop over the course of the episodes.

Can Yaman and the cast

The role of Sandokan was entrusted to Can Yaman, known for DayDreamer – The wings of the dream, Purple like the sea And The Turk. To prepare, the actor followed an intense physical training program, improving his skills as a swordsman, horseman and boxer. Alongside him, Alessandro Preziosi plays Yanez, while the young Alanah Bloor plays Marianna, and Ed Westwick plays the role of the antagonist Lord Brooke. British actor John Hannah completes the cast as new character Sergeant Murray. The direction was entrusted to Jan Maria Michelini and Nicola Abbatangelo, with the aim of conquering a young audience without completely betraying the nostalgic.

The locations and the production

Work on the new series lasted five years, amidst the pandemic and production difficulties. Many maritime scenes were recreated in the studio thanks to immersive video walls and virtual production, while the exteriors were shot in Italy: Rome (Parco La Selvotta), Cinecittà and Formello hosted the reconstruction of the ships and Mompracem.

Calabria played a key role: the Riviera dei Tramonti and Capo Vaticano were the backdrop for the action scenes, while the port of Labuan was rebuilt in Le Castella and the new city of Labuan in Lamezia Terme. The series required a crew of 150 people, 2,500 special figures and 2,000 extras, with a total budget of 30 million euros.

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