‘Perfect Strangers' Director Scores Smash Hit With New Comedy ‘Madly' With Raft of Remake Deals to Close at Cannes Market (EXCLUSIVE)
'Madness' – which is titled 'FolleMente' in Italy – depicts a first date between a man and a woman in Rome and features all the voices that live in their brains which oscillate between embarrassment and laughter, each played by a different actor. The romance-tinged comedy has scored more than 2 million admissions and grossed more than $18 million at the Italian box office since it's Feb. 20 local release via RAI Cinema's 01 Distribution — and is still going strong.
More from Variety
Old World, New Power: The Unexpected Ways Europe's Entertainment Business Could Benefit From Trump's Re-Election
Italy's Right-Wing Government Dithers and Delays Production Tax Incentives, Prompting Industry Uproar
Dale McRaven, 'Mork & Mindy' and 'Perfect Strangers' Creator, Dies at 83
Genovese co-wrote the screenplay with Isabella Aguilar, Lucia Calamaro, Paolo Costella and Flaminia Gressi.
'We are getting remake requests from all over the world,' producer Raffaella Leone tells Variety, adding that this time around 'we want to manage things a bit differently' from what happened with 'Perfect Strangers,' meaning that her Leone Film Group is 'looking to coproduce the film's remakes in European countries such as Spain, France, and Germany,' she said, adding that 'we are discussing the possibility with Paolo that he could direct the U.S. adaptation.'
Leone Film Group will be 'taking an office in Cannes,' she said, where they expect to close a slew of deals on 'Maybe.' RAI Cinema International Distribution is handling sales on the readymade Italian version of the new Genovese film on which Leone says a slew of deals are already being negotiated that will also officially be sealed in Cannes.
'Perfect Strangers,' which launched in 2016 and was sold by Medusa, holds the Guiness Book of World Record for the most remade movie in cinema history, having spawned remakes in 24 territories including France, Germany, Spain, Greece, and South Korea. According to Leone these remakes have grossed some $400 million, excluding the U.S. where the The Weinstein Company held the rights that were long put on hold after the company went under.
Raffaella and Andrea Leone are the lead producers on 'FolleMente' – which stars an A-list Italian cast featuring Edoardo Leo and Pilar Fogliati as the leads and Claudia Pandolfi, Vittoria Puccini, Emanuela Fanelli, Maria Chiara Giannetta and Marco Giallini, Maurizio Lastrico, Claudio Santamaria and Rocco Papaleo. The hit film is co-produced by Leone Film Group's Lotus Production with RAI Cinema and in association with Disney+, which has streaming rights for top European territories, and Vice Pictures.
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025
The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Screen Geek
5 hours ago
- Screen Geek
ABC Cancels Series After Only One Season
ABC has made another tough decision regarding one of their newest television shows. Unfortunately, for fans of one particular series, it's been confirmed that ABC has canceled the title after releasing one sole season on their network. It took quite some time for the scripted series to receive some kind of update regarding whether or not it would be renewed or canceled entirely. Now, however, we know that ABC decided on the latter. It's unfortunate that the series had to be canceled, and even more so that crew members are alleging that there was inappropriate behavior while working on the series. What began as a promising addition to the network's lineup has now ended not only in cancellation, but under the cloud of behind-the-scenes concerns that have started to come to light in recent weeks. '' Doctor Odyssey ' has been canceled after one season on ABC.' Variety notes that 'the cast's contracts expire on Monday with no move from ABC to put the series back on its schedule for the upcoming year.' With that said, the outlet does suggest one possible reason for the show's cancellation. The news was released just 'after three of the show's former crew members filed a lawsuit against Disney and 20th Television on May 30, alleging that the studio enabled an 'unchecked campaign of sexual harassment for months'' and the crew members also accused 'assistant prop master Tyler Patton of making 'sexual jokes, innuendos, comments, sexual gestures and images' in addition to 'unwanted touching' including 'openly grabbing a visiting female employee's buttocks.' The medical drama series, created by Ryan Murphy, starred Joshua Jackson as Max Bankman. His character is a doctor on a luxury cruise line called the Odyssey. The story revolves around Bankman as he assists with medical emergencies while overseas. The series Doctor Odyssey was produced by 20th Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding the latest titles to be renewed or canceled by ABC and other such television networks and platforms as we have them.
Hypebeast
10 hours ago
- Hypebeast
Kappa Reworks Rave Style Codes in New Capsule Collection
In the run-up to this year'sKappa FuturFestival, Italian fashion and sports brandKappareturns with a new capsule collection that brings techno's famously minimalist uniform into the sportswear realm. Picking up from the2024 drop, the latest offering features a technical mix of mesh-lined vests, black hoodies with fluorescent 'Futur' prints, and short-sleeved T-shirts that adopt the iconic Omini motif in a radio wave-like adaptation. In the women's offering, these aesthetics are transferred onto crop tops and strappy bralettes, pairing well with cycling shorts or skirts. Given the popularity of last year's football-inspired jersey, the brand crafts a similar garment which takes the deep color palette of the collection and layers it on top of imagery of the Parco Dora festival site. Enhancing the sporty aesthetic, a series of essential festival accessories also make their way into the collection, including bucket hats, side bags, and a pair of Kappa-branded sunglasses. Be sure to check out the range in the lookbook featured above. You can now shop the capsule collection on Kappa'swebsite. To watch headliners Solomun,Peggy Gou, andCarl Cox, get your tickets for Kappa FuturFestival 2025onlinenow.
UPI
13 hours ago
- UPI
Virginia Madsen leads tributes to late brother, actor Michael Madsen
Hollywood is mourning the death of "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill" actor Michael Madsen. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 4 (UPI) -- Sideways icon Virginia Madsen is leading the tributes to her brother, Reservoir Dogs and The Hateful Eight actor Michael Madsen, who died Thursday at the age of 67. "My brother Michael has left the stage," Virginia wrote in a statement to Variety. "He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother -- etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark," she added. "We're not mourning a public figure. We're not mourning a myth -- but flesh and blood and a ferocious heart." Actor Titus Welliver said: "Michael Madsen has departed. Mike leaves behind a body of work that will never be forgotten. Rest brother, too young." REMEMBERING MICHAEL MADSEN: The "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill" actor has died at the age of 67. Madsen was found unresponsive Thursday morning at his Malibu home and is believed to have died of cardiac arrest, his publicist told ABC News. Good Morning America (@GMA) July 4, 2025 "I had the pleasure of working with Michael Madsen on Kill Bill & several other films!" Vivica A. Fox told the New York Post in an email Thursday. "Michael was a talented man with an AMAZING on screen presence! My deepest condolences & prayers to his family. #GoneTooSoon #RestinParadise." "Michael Madsen... this man... this artist... this poet... this rascal," Walton Goggins said on Instagram. "ICON.... Aura like no one else. Ain't enough words so I'll just say this.... I love you buddy. A H8TER forever." Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez posted on X: "Frank Miller and I have always loved telling the story how no one was allowed to improvise any dialogue on Sin City. (We wanted to have the movie be incredibly faithful to his graphic novel.) "But we bent that rule every day Michael Madsen worked with us. Being a fantastic writer, he just kept bringing us one golden additional line after another, and he would make us laugh so much we'd relent and say to each other, 'Well if we're going to break the rule with someone, it might as well be Michael Madsen,'" Rodriguez added. "He keeps coming up with such great lines! "The other rule we broke was by casting someone who didn't look at all like the drawn character in the book. Michael was so larger than life, we just felt he would make a much better partner to Bruce Willis' detective, I mean, what an ultimate cop team! And he was just an absolute joy to work with. I will miss you Michael, you truly are one of the greats." "Oh man, this is a hard one," said James Woods. "Michael and I did The Getaway together. We did Straight Talk together. I was always touched by his sweet nature and generosity, the absolute opposite of the 'tough guys' he portrayed so brilliantly. Rest in Peace, dear friend." Comedian Rob Schneider said: "Michael Madsen was a dream to work with. A truly gifted actor & gentleman who made every person on the set comfortable; generous with his stories & with his infectious laughter. I only wish we could have done more things together in this crazy business. My love to his kids & friends."
