Can Yaman is already looking to the future. Appearing as a guest at the BCT Festival in Benevento, the actor discussed the new projects he is preparing to begin, focusing in particular on the role he will play alongside Giovanni Nasta.
The character will be far removed from the stereotypes that made him famous and will give him the opportunity to reveal a previously unseen, more humorous and self-deprecating side of himself. During the conversation, Yaman also spoke about his experience on Sandokan, the evolution of his career, his relationship with cinema and the changes the audiovisual industry has undergone in recent years.
Interview With Can Yaman in Benevento
Filming for your new project is about to begin. You have said that you want to distance yourself from the kinds of roles audiences are used to seeing you play. Will your background as a law student help you with this character? And what is it like working with Giovanni Nasta again after Viola come il mare?
“I have a very special connection with Giovanni Nasta. I have so much fun working with him. During Viola come il mare, we were heavily restricted by the narrative demands of the crime storyline. The dialogue was technical, it had to be delivered in a very specific way, and there was very little room for improvisation. Even changing a single word could become complicated.
“That disappointed me a little because I believe an actor should also have the freedom to interpret and personalize what they say. So during breaks, Giovanni and I would have fun completely reinventing our characters and creating entirely different ones. It was a game that made us laugh a lot.
“The idea for this new project came directly from that. During a screening of Sandokan in London, the producers asked me what I wanted to do next. I told them I wanted something completely different. After Sandokan, I felt ready to challenge myself with a comedy, perhaps alongside Giovanni, with the freedom to improvise and also work in another language.
“I would like to play an awkward, self-deprecating character who is far removed from the image the public has of me. Giovanni, on the other hand, could be the more confident one. They immediately liked the idea, and the writers developed these two characters, both of whom are lawyers.
“From that perspective, my law studies will help me. I will have to rediscover the side of myself that was extremely studious when I was younger. I attended an Italian high school and then studied law, which amounted to more than ten years of intense education. I was very focused on books and not very interested in social life. To play this role, I will have to reconnect with that version of Can Yaman. At the same time, however, I will need to be lighthearted, make fun of myself and enjoy it. It will be something I have never done before.
When will filming begin?
“In around 20 to 27 days. We’re almost there.”
Looking back at your career, what kind of actor did you dream of becoming when you first started? Have your goals changed over time?
“I believe every actor goes through different stages. In your twenties, you are still young and perhaps you make romantic comedies. In your thirties, you begin looking for more mature roles, perhaps in action projects. When you reach your forties, you will change again, and so on.
“When I was making romantic comedies, I already knew that one day I would want to switch genres. But I was not in a hurry. I was convinced that the right moment would eventually arrive.
“And that is exactly what happened. When I came to Italy, I was 30 and began experimenting with new things. Today, I am 36, I have made Sandokan, and I feel this is the ideal time to take on a new challenge. In a few years, I may have different goals again. The important thing is understanding the right moment for every decision.”
Is there an iconic character from television or cinema that you would like to play?
“All successful characters are fascinating. In America, there is a different tradition. Think of James Bond or other major heroes who have been reinterpreted by different actors over the years.
“In Europe, we have fewer figures of that kind. For me, Sandokan already represents an enormous opportunity. I am a Turkish actor who came to Italy and took on an iconic character who is deeply loved by the public and who was portrayed magnificently by other actors in the past. It is a huge responsibility.
“There are, however, series that I love very much. For example, Banshee is an American action series that I adore. While watching it, I often thought it would have been wonderful to play that character. Sometimes, when I watch a movie or series, I find myself imagining how I would have approached a particular role.”
You have worked in soap operas, television dramas and international productions such as Il Turco and Sandokan. When will we see you in a movie?
“I have never been obsessed with the big screen. The industry changed enormously after Covid. Today, production companies invest primarily in television series because they represent a more sustainable business model.
“A series can continue for several seasons and provide continuity. Movies still exist, of course, but they often remain in theaters for only a short period before arriving on streaming platforms. That is not a criticism; it is simply an observation.
“If an interesting movie offer comes along one day, I will certainly consider it. For example, we are currently evaluating a project in Brazil that would even require me to learn Portuguese. But as things stand today, around 90 percent of the offers I receive are for television series.”
We have watched your artistic development all the way to Sandokan. Where do you want to go next? Is there a role or director you dream of working with?
“I am often asked about directors. The truth is that I do not have a specific name in mind. In the past, I dreamed of working with certain directors, but after meeting them, I realized the reality was different from what I had imagined.
“On the other hand, there have been professionals I knew nothing about who completely won me over. That happened with Jan Michelini on Sandokan. I discovered an extraordinary person who was extremely present and attentive to every detail.
“The industry works differently today than it did in the past. Streaming platforms play a central role: they decide the budgets, choose the projects and often influence the selection of actors and directors as well. For that reason, there is little point in dreaming of working with one particular director.
“Instead, I would like to work on a major international production with a substantial budget and all the necessary conditions to create a high-quality project. Today, what matters is the combination of all the elements that make great work possible.”
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