Portobello (2025 TV series)
| Portobello | |
|---|---|
Italian HBO Max poster | |
| Genre | Biography drama |
| Based on | Lettere a Francesca by Enzo Tortora[1] |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Marco Bellocchio |
| Starring |
|
| Composer | Teho Teardo |
| Country of origin |
|
| Original language | Italian |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography | Francesco Di Giacomo |
| Editor | Francesca Calvelli |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO Max[a] |
| Release | 20 February 2026 – present |
Portobello is a biographical drama television miniseries co-written and directed by Marco Bellocchio, based on the 2016 book Lettere a Francesca by Enzo Tortora. The first two episodes of the series were screened out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 2025. The series was released globally on HBO Max on February 20, 2026.[2]
Premise
In 1983, Enzo Tortora, host of the variety show Portobello, is arrested after being accused of being a member of the Camorra.
Cast
- Fabrizio Gifuni as Enzo Tortora
- Lino Musella as Giovanni Pandico
- Romana Maggiora Vergano as Francesca Scopelliti
- Barbora Bobuľová as Anna Tortora
- Gianfranco Gallo as Raffaele Cutolo
- Alessandro Preziosi as Giorgio Fontana
- Valeria Marini as Moira Orfei
- Fabrizio Contri as Cino Tortorella
- Tommaso Ragno as Marco Pannella
- Francesca Benedetti as Paola Borboni
- Carlotta Gamba
- Fausto Russo Alesi
- Alma Noce
- Paolo Pierobon
- Gianluca Gobbi
- Massimiliano Rossi
- Pier Giorgio Bellocchio
- Alessio Praticò
- Antonia Truppo
- Salvatore D'Onofrio
Episodes
| No. | Title [3] | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "28 Million Viewers" (28 Milioni di Spettatori) | Marco Bellocchio | Story by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari Teleplay by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari & Peppe Fiore | 20 February 2026 |
| 2 | "Jail" (Galera) | Marco Bellocchio | Story by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari Teleplay by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari & Peppe Fiore | 27 February 2026 |
| 3 | "Infallible" (Infallibili) | Marco Bellocchio | Story by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari Teleplay by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari & Peppe Fiore | 6 March 2026 |
| 4 | "The Infamous Column" (La colonna infame) | Marco Bellocchio | Story by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari Teleplay by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari & Peppe Fiore | 13 March 2026 |
| 5 | "Merchant of Death" (Trafficante di morte) | Marco Bellocchio | Story by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari Teleplay by : Marco Bellocchio & Stefano Bises & Giordana Mari & Peppe Fiore | 20 March 2026 |
| 6 | TBA | TBA | TBA | 27 March 2026 |
Production
Principal photography began in September 2024.[4][5] Filming took place in Rome, as well as Sardinia, Campania, and Lombardy.[6]
Release
A promotional clip was released on 17 June 2025.[7][8] The first two episodes of the series were presented at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 2025.[9][10] It will also be presented at the Toronto International Film Festival[11] and the BFI London Film Festival.[12]
The series premiered on February 20, 2026. It is the platform's first Italian original series.[13]
Notes
- ^ Despite being marketed as an "HBO Original," the series will be released directly on HBO Max as HBO is only available as a content hub within the service in Italy.
References
- ^ Amitrano, Vania (1 September 2025). "Portobello, a Venezia 82 il regista Marco Bellocchio: «La vicenda Tortora deve interrogare tutti»". Ciak (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse (3 December 2025). "HBO Max To Launch In UK In March 2026; Germany & Italy Debuts Also Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Shows A-Z - Portobello on hbo max | TheFutonCritic.com". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick (25 September 2024). "Marco Bellocchio Produces, Directs TV Series 'Portobello' That Marks First Project From Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Mieli's Our Films (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ Scarpa, Vittoria (26 September 2024). "Marco Bellocchio shooting the Portobello series exploring the Enzo Tortora affair". Cineuropa. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick (24 February 2025). "Max Sets Marco Bellocchio-Directed 'Portobello' as First Italian Original Series". Variety. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ Dondi, Beatrice (17 June 2025). ""Portobello", la serie di Bellocchio sulla drammatica vicenda di Enzo Tortora". L'Espresso (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ Amodeo, Maria Francesca (19 June 2025). "Portobello, la prima serie tv italiana HBO, si è presentata al mondo con una clip molto toccante". GQ Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ Amitrano, Vania (22 July 2025). "Venezia 82, il programma della Biennale Cinema 2025 (diretta)". Ciak (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ Sernagiotto, Camilla (1 September 2025). "Portobello, a Venezia la serie tv sull'arresto di Enzo Tortora". Sky TG24 (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (7 August 2025). "TIFF Primetime Lineup: 'The Lowdown', 'Wayward' & 'Black Rabbit' Set To Premiere in Toronto's Series Showcase". Deadline. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (3 September 2025). "BFI London Film Festival: Chloé Zhao's 'Hamnet' & Kate Moss Biopic 'Moss & Feud' Among Headline Titles — Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ Ntim, Zac; Whittock, Jesse (24 February 2025). "Max Italian Series; WGGB President On AI; Moonbug In Holland; WBD Unveils EMEA Unscripted Slate — Global Briefs". Deadline. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
External links
- Portobello at IMDb