Joe Wright’s ‘Mussolini: Son of the Century’ Epic Series Will Be Distributed by MUBI — Watch New Teaser

The "Pride & Prejudice" and "Darkest Hour" director helms another historical tale with the eight-part drama series.

Joe Wright‘s buzzy eight-part drama series “Mussolini: Son of the Century” has finally found a home, as MUBI will be distributing the show on its streaming service later this year. The global distributor and production company has acquired the North American rights for the series, which premiered at the 81st Venice Film Festival; MUBI will also handle the release of the series in Latin America, Belgium, Luxembourg, Turkey, India, and New Zealand in a multi-territory deal with Fremantle.

“Mussolini: Son of the Century” was adapted from Antonio Scurati’s bestselling trilogy of the same name, and charts the rise of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini as he served as Prime Minister of Italy from 1922 to 1943. Luca Marinelli portrays the infamous ruler.

“Pride & Prejudice,” “Darkest Hour,” and “Cyrano” director Wright makes his return to TV more than 20 years after helming 2003 BBC One series “Charles II: The Power and the Passion.” Writers Stefano Bises and Davide Serino adapted “Mussolini: Son of the Century,” which is billed as a “scathing contemporary portrait of Mussolini and his political rise, from the formation of the irregular militia of the Fasces of Combat to the imposition of the most ferocious dictatorships Italy has ever known.”

“This series was a chance to explore how charisma and chaos can coexist in a single man — and how that dangerous combination can reshape a nation,” Wright said in a press statement. “Luca Marinelli brings Mussolini’s volatility and magnetism to terrifying life. It was a privilege to work with such an extraordinary team on a story that feels both historical and disturbingly timeless. MUBI is the perfect home for the series — a platform that embraces daring, intelligent storytelling and treats its audience as collaborators in the experience.”

Efe Cakarel, the founder and CEO of MUBI, added, “Fearless storytelling has always been at the heart of MUBI, and no one embodies it more vividly than Joe Wright. With ‘Mussolini: Son of the Century’ he transforms history into pulse-quickening drama — elevated by Luca Marinelli’s searing performance — and proves how the screen can both unsettle and enlighten. We’re honored to bring this extraordinary series to audiences around the world.”

Christian Vesper, the CEO Global Drama & Film at Fremantle continued, “It was really important to us that we found the right partner to help us expand the reach of ‘Mussolini: Son of the Century’ and I’ve no doubt that’s exactly what we’ve got in MUBI. I can’t think of a better pair of hands to nurture and celebrate this extraordinary series and help us tell this important story.”

“Mussolini: Son of the Century” is produced by Sky Studios and Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle company, in co-production with Pathé, in association with Small Forward Productions, in collaboration with Fremantle, Cinecittà S.p.A., and Sky. Fremantle handles global sales.

Additional MUBI releases include Cannes 2025 films such as Oliver Hermanus’ “The History of Sound” starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, as well as fellow O’Connor feature “The Mastermind,” directed by Kelly Reichardt. In 2024, MUBI distributed the Academy Award-winning film “The Substance” and Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer.”

Previous MUBI TV series range from Wiliam Kentridge’s “Self Portrait as a Coffee Pot” and Lars von Trier’s “The Kingdom Trilogy.” IndieWire recently announced that late icon David Lynch’s beloved series “Twin Peaks” and its 2017 continuation, “Twin Peaks: The Return,” will both be streaming on MUBI starting June 13.

MUBI will release “Mussolini: Son of the Century” on its streaming service later this year. Check out the teaser below.