EXCLUSIVE: The House of Savoy is the royal inspiration for an upcoming reality competition series.
Rome-based Into The Sun Films is behind Becoming Royals, which the European production house says is “inspired by the values, traditions, and modern evolution of Italy’s famed royal House of Savoy.”
Colors of the Sun Ventures, the joint venture Chinese producer Yi Zhou‘s Into The Sun Entertainment and Italy’s Augustus Group formed in May 2024, is presenting the project. No network, streamer or distribution plans disclosed at this stage.
Zhou, a Chinese producer and director who was raised in Italy, developed the concept through an initiative of the Royal House of Savoy Inc., which launched back in 2022 to explore the modern role of nobility, leadership, and legacy.
She will host with Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, the Prince of Venice, serving as executive producer and appearing on screen as a central figure, mentor and authority within the competition.
The high-concept reality competition sees participants experience, and be tested on, what it truly means to embody royal conduct in the modern world. Over the series, they will be immersed in a series of challenges rooted in etiquette, leadership, cultural literacy, diplomacy, discipline and public presence.
Emanuele Filiberto is the grandson of Queen Marie-José, who was the last Queen of Italy as the wife of Umberto II, briefly holding the title between May and June 1946 before Italy abolished its monarchy.
His participation marks one of the few times European royalty as made such a commitment to a TV series, and Into The Sun says this will provide “rare authenticity and insight into royal expectations, values, and legacy, grounding the format in real lineage while pushing it into a modern, aspirational context.”
The Royal House of Savoy has been building out a development slate of films and TV series centered on Queen Marie-José. Her life is being brought to screen by Zhou, who was raised in Italy and has a close attachment to the subject.
As such, Into The Sun Films, a subsidiary of Zhou’s L.A.-based Into The Sun banner, has begun pre-production on The May Queen, a sweeping historical biopic set in Italy. Directed by Zhou, the film will bring to life the story of a Marie-José, a notable figure whose legacy shaped modern European history.
The plan is for The May Queen to blend drama, politics and the personal struggles of a woman navigating power in a patriarchal society.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source deadline.com ’
