After struggling to bring to fruition his take on the American novel from Ann Patchett entitled Bel canto, Variety reports that Bernardo Bertolucci’s new project is an untitled English-language drama centered on the emotionally turbulent life of 16th-century Italo musician and murderer Gesualdo da Venosa.
Continuing his fascination with dead people and historical figures, the tale will have a substantial musical component centered on the composer — whose creativity soared as he suffered terribly over having killed his first wife and her lover.
Mark Peploe who has written a fair amount of screenplays for Bertolucci including The Last Emperor, will pen this epic tale and longtime producer Jeremy Thomas is on board as well. Bertolucci last directed The Dreamers.
