Marco Bellocchio sets autumn shoot for upcoming drama series 'Portobello'

Filming on Veteran Italian director Marco Bellocchio's drama series Portobello, based on the true story of Italian TV celebrity journalist Enzo Tortora wrongly accused of being a Mafia member in the early 1980s, will begin in the autumn.

The screenplay for the series is almost complete and shooting is due to commence in the autumn, with financing and casting details likely to be announced shortly.

Speaking to our sister site Screen, Bellocchio said: “He [Tortora] was convicted and sentenced to prison because of a huge judiciary mistake,” Bellocchio said of his subject who hosted hit TV show Portobello but ended up receiving a 10 year prison sentence. “They [the authorities] literally destroyed his family, his life, his professional career - and he died out of sheer grief.”

Bellocchio's debut feature Fists In The Pocket (1965) is currently being re-made by Brazilian director Karim Ainouz. The remake stars Kristen Stewart, Josh O’Connor, and Elle Fanning.