The Leopard is a sweeping historical drama that follows the decadent Sicilian aristocracy battling for survival as revolution approaches.
Based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s modern classic novel The Leopard, the period drama stars Kim Rossi Stuart as Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, who must make a heartbreaking choice in order to save his family as democracy threatens their privileged existence.
"I read the book in my 20s and thought it was wonderful," says House of Cards and The Serpent director Tom Shankland, who has directed four episodes of The Leopard. "There’s so much about experiencing personal change as well as social and political change. It’s also a profound and touching experience of family life and the way it has to navigate huge, turbulent historical changes.
"I hope that people watching feel it gives them a way of reflecting back on what’s been going on with all of us in the last few years, when we’ve had pandemics, crazy politics and all the rest of it. How do we survive as families, as humans, in that and what’s the most important thing? What changes and what doesn’t?"
Here’s everything you need to know about Netflix drama The Leopard…
The Leopard release date
The Leopard six-episode Italian-language series will air on Netflix from Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Is there a trailer
Yes The Leopard teaser trailer shows the Sicilian aristocracy trying desperately to hold onto its position in society against the backdrop of impending revolution and democracy. Take a look below... Innit lavish?
The Leopard plot
The Leopard follows the Prince of Salina, aka Don Fabrizio Corbera (Kim Rossi Stuart), who along with his family leads a life of extraordinary wealth and privilege in 1860s Sicily. But Italy is moving towards unification and the established aristocracy comes under threat.
Realizing his family’s future is in danger, Don Fabrizio Corbera is faced with an impossible choice. He can engineer a marriage between his nephew Tancredi (Saul Nanni) and the rich, beautiful Angelica (Deva Cassel, who is the daughter of Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel) that would secure his family’s legacy but doing so would break his favorite daughter Concetta’s heart. For Concetta (Benedetta Porcaroli) is desperately in love with Tancredi and is already promised to him. Will Don Fabrizio choose his favourite child’s happiness over his own legacy?
The Leopard cast
The Leopard sees Kim Rossi Stuart play Don Fabrizio Corbera. He has previously starred in Angels of Evil, The Keys to the House and Libero (Along the Ridge). Saul Nanni plays Don Fabrizio’s nephew Tancredi while Benedetta Porcaroli is his daughter, Concetta. Deva Cassel is Angelica, whom he hopes will marry Tancredi.
Other cast in The Leopard includes Paolo Calabresi, Francesco Colella, Astrid Meloni and Greta Esposito.
Behind the scenes, locations and more on The Leopard
The Leopard was filmed in Palermo, Syracuse, Catania, and Rome, and is produced by Fabrizio Donvito, Daniel Campos Pavoncelli, Marco Cohen, Benedetto Habib, and Alessandro Mascheroni for Indiana Production and by Will Gould and Frith Tiplady for Moonage Pictures.
Tom Shankland (The Serpent, House of Cards, The Leftovers) is the director, alongside Giuseppe Capotondi (episode 4) and Laura Luchetti (episode 5). The series, written by Richard Warlow, who is also the creator and executive producer, alongside Benji Walters. The director of photography is Nicolaj Bruel. The costumes are by Carlo Poggioli and Edoardo Russo. Dimitri Capuani is the art director. The original music is by Paolo Buonvino.
