Four Chinese streamers have acquired the final season of Italian-language drama series My Brilliant Friend from Fremantle.
iQIYI, Tencent Video, Youku and Bilibili have all acquired My Brilliant Friend: The Story of the Lost Child, which stars Alba Rochwacher and Irene Maiorino and is based on the final part of Elena Ferrante’s bestselling quadriology. Previous seasons have also sold to multiple Chinese streaming services.
The series delves into the adult lives of Elena (Rochwacher) and Lila (Maiorino) against the backdrop of political and social turmoil in late 1970s Italy. The HBO and RAI series, from Saverio Costanzo, is produced by Fremantle Italy and its subsidiaries The Apartment, Wildside and Fandango
The Chinese streamers struck their deals with Fremantle’s Asia office in Singapore, with Fremantle handling sales on the show in association with RAI Com.
“After the resounding success of the first three series in China, we are immensely proud to be bringing the adaptation of the final chapter of Ferrante’s work to its largest audience ever,” said Haryaty Rahman, EVP Distribution Asia, International, Fremantle.
“My Brilliant Friend’s gripping storytelling and complex characters have taken viewers on an epic journey of friendship for years, both through the bestselling books and acclaimed on-screen adaptations. The unprecedented reach of this deal speaks to the strength of our partnerships across China and is a testament to the strength of the IP globally.”