Adapted from Antonio Scurati’s novel of the same name, M. Son of the Century delves into the rise of right-wing, populist, and authoritarian ideology, specifically looking into Benito Mussolini, played by Luca Marinelli in the series. Marinelli irrevocably embodies his character, to the point that he is even physically unrecognizable, and often breaks the fourth wall and talks to the audience as he chronicles the rise of the National Fascist Party. Director Joe Wright has often portrayed notorious, polarizing historical leaders, and humanizing Mussolini is by no means an easy task, but as always, he casts light on why it is important to understand how this moment of history came to be.
At the Toronto International Film Festival, Wright and Marinelli talk to Collider's Steve Weintraub about why they wanted to create a show about this political figure and how it feels to create something that transcends their own artistic ambitions. They reveal their surprise at learning how violent Mussolini was, and Marinelli expresses how difficult it is to step into his mind while suspending judgment. They also tease upcoming projects, including Wright's The Agency with Michael Fassbender and Marinelli's involvement in The Old Guard 2.
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