Rome’s Cinecittà studios, which in its heyday hosted sword-and-sandals epics such as William Wyler’s “Ben-Hur” and was home to Federico Fellini, are being revamped thanks to a loan provided by the European Union’s post-pandemic recovery fund.
The goal of Cinecittà, once known as Hollywood on the Tiber, is to become the largest studio space in Europe and gain a competitive edge against other prominent European facilities such as Germany’s Studio Babelsberg, Hungary’s Origo Studios and Nu Boyana in Bulgaria.
Below are some recent Cinecittà milestones that provide a snapshot of key steps in the studio’s transformation into a cutting-edge city of cinema and magnet for Hollywood productions once again.
2021
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and then-Italian premier Mario Draghi jointly visit the Cinecittà lot and hold a press conference in Studio 5, where Fellini shot almost all of his films, to announce a €300 million ($340 million) investment to meet growing international demand for studio space. A six-year plan is announced that envisions building new soundstages and renovating and expanding existing ones. Another key aspect of the sprawling studios’ relaunch is the building of full-service facilities, with digital editing and sound mixing suites, as well as 35mm and 16mm film processing. This is done to help lure big production companies and broadcasters or streamers to Cinecittà with long-term service deals.
2022
Cinecittà unveils one of the world’s largest LED volume stages with a 412-square-meter (4,434-sq.-ft.) semicircular screen in the new Theatre 18. Angelina Jolie-directed drama “Without Blood,” starring Salma Hayek, inaugurated the facility, followed by Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer,” the Joe Wright-directed TV series “M” and the U.S. sci-fi thriller “White Mars.”
Cinecittà’s CEO Nicola Maccanico inks a strategic five-year pact with Fremantle involving the continuous rental of six soundstages. Two more years are now left on that deal. Cinecittà also has a similar agreement in place with Endemol Shine Italy.
2023
Cinecittà reaches full occupancy thanks to Hollywood series such as Netflix’s period soap “The Decameron,” Roland Emmerich’s gladiator series “Those About to Die” and Joe Wright’s Benito Mussolini-themed “M,” plus big feature films such as Edward Berger’s “Conclave” and Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer,” just as it reaches completion of 20 state-of-the-art soundstages. Several spaces have been restructured while others are entirely new.
2024
In June, Maccanico steps down at the end of his three-year mandate. His resignation comes during a slowdown at the Rome studios brought on by the impact of Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes and fears that Italy’s government could be tinkering with its tax rebates for international productions as it prepares to make announced changes in local film incentives. That fear turns out to be unfounded.
In July, Manuela Cacciamani, a producer who has a long relationship with Cinecittà, is appointed CEO, becoming the first woman to run the studios in its more than 80-year history.
2025
In March, Cacciamani announces that Mel Gibson’s “The Resurrection of Christ” has booked Cinecittà for the bulk of its production, while Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” has set up camp on the lot. Disney and Universal will soon start shooting big projects as well. Cacciamani is on track to carry out the studio’s six-year revamp plan. Her goal is for Cinecittà to reach a €30 million-€35 million ($34 million-$39 million) turnover and a 15% profit margin in 2026.
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