Interview - Medici: Masters of Florence with Frank Spotnitz.
Think you’ve binged all you can binge on Netflix? Wondering what’s next with the wait for more X-Files uncertain and the holiday season usually being a bit barren of fresh tv drama? Well, wait no more and step right up because Frank Spotnitz, executive producer of The X-Files and Man in the High Castle, and Nicholas Meyer, the man who wrote and directed Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan have an early Christmas present for you. Medici: Masters of Florence is set in 15th century Italy and follows the Medici family, wealthy bankers and political heavyweights of the time.
The Medici family is credited with helping to usher in the Renaissance with their support of the arts alongside their political capital at the Vatican. The show is shot on-location in Italy, providing gorgeous cinematography, and the story delivers a deep and human look at what might have brought along this revolution. The show stars Dustin Hoffman as patriarch Giovanni de Medici and Game of Thrones star Richard Madden as his son, Cosimo.
In short, grab some snacks, pick a comfy sofa, and don’t miss it.
Medici: Masters of Florence premiers today, December 9th, on Netflix in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Ireland. Frank Spotnitz took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to answer some of our burning questions.
The ratings results in Italy for the first season of Medici were amazing, (congrats) it seems Italians really embraced this retelling of one of their most famous families history. How did you think audiences who are not as familiar with the Medici’s importance will embrace the show?
Well, I’m very curious to see. I think the success of the show doesn’t depend on whether you know the Medici, or even care about them (he laughs), I think our intention from the beginning was just to make a really compelling, gripping show - regardless of who the Medici were. That was the first thing we said, we said, “we can’t assume anybody cares about the Medici.” So why would you watch? So that’s why we took the approach of, you know, the historical “what-if”, What if Giovanni de’ Medici was murdered? And that leaves his two sons in charge of the bank, which is the starting off point for the show. So, I think it’s one of those shows, that hopefully can just be enjoyed on its own terms, and the history behind it is just an added layer.
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