Great Anticipation for Sandokan
There's a lot of excitement for Sandokan, the TV series produced by Lux Vide and Rai Fiction, starring Can Yaman as the Tiger of Malaysia. Director Jan Maria Michelini discusses the international production and the cast, explaining why Can Yaman was chosen to portray the legendary character.
Sandokan Expected on Rai 1—But It's Not a Remake
When the Sandokan project was announced about four years ago, everyone immediately thought of Kabir Bedi's portrayal in the 1970s. However, this won't be a remake of that successful series with the iconic sex symbol. Instead, it's a new vision of the Tiger of Malaysia from Emilio Salgari's famous novels, as assured by director Jan Maria Michelini. In the new issue of TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, there's a special feature on the Lux Vide and Rai Fiction production, whose filming has officially wrapped up. The series won't air on television for at least another year, debuting on Rai 1.
"There were three years of preparation before filming [...] How can you compare something from so many years ago with today's work? Our goal is to introduce Sandokan to young people—or perhaps tug at the heartstrings of some nostalgic fans."
This is the director's admission, emphasizing that he never considered his Sandokan as a remake. He envisioned the saga's protagonists differently, such as the character Lord Brooke, played by Ed Westwick—whom he didn't realize was Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl until someone told him after the audition.
Why Only Yaman Could Play Sandokan
The leading star of the new Sandokan is Can Yaman, the Turkish actor who underwent a strict diet, intense gym training, English diction lessons, horseback riding, and combat training to embody the Tiger of Malaysia. Fans of Yaman know that it was the promise of this role that led him to move permanently to Rome, making this project particularly special to him. As mentioned earlier, this won't be a Sandokan that mirrors Kabir Bedi's version, although comparisons are inevitable for many. So why choose Yaman for this role? Director Jan Maria Michelini explains:
"Well, only he could play Sandokan. He will be both a superhero endowed with beauty and physical strength, and a carefree character with a sentimental side."
In essence, Yaman was the only possible choice to portray the legendary Tiger of Malaysia, a character created by Emilio Salgari. For the rest of the cast, several auditions were held. The director admitted that he had one condition: to choose an Italian actor. His immediate choice was Alessandro Preziosi to play Yanez de Gomera. It appears this decision was spot-on, as Preziosi and Yaman have formed a strong bond, and their on-screen chemistry will undoubtedly be perfect.
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