Filming has only just wrapped in Naples on Gomorra – Le origini, the new Sky Original series produced by Sky Studios and Cattleya (belonging to ITV Studios), which promises to expand the narrative universe based on Roberto Saviano’s bestselling book. Composed of six 50-minute episodes and expected on Sky and NOW from January 2026, the prequel looks back on the younger days of Pietro Savastano, the ruthless central character from the parent show, Gomorrah, whom we see as little more than a boy taking his first wobbly steps in the world of organised crime.

With the first four episodes directed by Marco D’Amore (already an iconic name for this saga, having also directed the spin-off series The Immortal [+lee también:
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Centre stage, we see young newcomer-actor Luca Lubrano stepping into the shoes of Pietro, when he’s still far from becoming the mafia boss feared and venerated by viewers of the parents series. He’s a troubled teen, an adopted son raised in the poorest part of Secondigliano, who splits his time between small survival tactics and sizeable dreams of redemption. He’s surrrounded by others who are also in search of an escape route and are just as young as he is: childhood friends, first loves and the first temptations associated with power.

The story begins in 1977, a crucial year both for the protagonist and for Naples’ criminal history. His meeting with charismatic Angelo, known as ‘A Sirena (Francesco Pellegrino), who manages a gambling den for the Villa clan, marks Pietro’s introduction to the world of the Camorra. He’s joined by a group of his peers, played by Antonio Del Duca, Mattia Francesco Cozzolino, Junior Rancel Rodriguez Arcia and Antonio Incalza, with each of them feeding into the future boss’s criminal identity.

Another key figure is ‘O Paisano (Flavio Furno) - a prisoner who dreams of a version of the Camorra “without slaves or masters” - and Michele Villa, aka ‘O Sant (Renato Russo), who’s a descendent of one of Naples’ aristocratic criminal families. Ciro Capano (Parthenope [+lee también:
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The series makes space for female stories too: here, young Imma (Tullia Venezia) - the future cornerstone of the Gomorrah universe – is still an idealistic student who divides her time between high school, music school and the desire to fly to America. The cast also stars Fabiola Balestriere in the shoes of young Annalisa Magliocca, the future Scianel who falls victim to her husband’s jealousy and violence, and Veronica D’Elia who plays ‘O Paisano’s sister, Anna.

On 6 May, Cineuropa was offered the opportunity to visit the set, together with a select group of national and international media players. During the press conference organised by the team, Sky Studios producer Niels Hartmann spoke about the challenges associated with returning to the franchise without responding “solely to marketing needs”. “We were won over by the right idea: a different story linked to original characters but set in another version of Naples. With a different yet authentic flavour and with Marco D’Amore at the wheel, who’s the only person who could do it.”

Speaking about the reconstruction of the Neapolitan capital, Cattleya producer Riccardo Tozzi explained: “1970s Naples no longer exists: we had to totally reinvent it in terms of set design, aesthetics and emotions. We followed the text and the characters, creating environments which gave them space. It’s a series with warmth, adolescence and tenderness: all the things which Gomorrah hasn’t explored to date.”

Last but not least, D’Amore underlined the wonderful creative climate which established itself from the outset: “From when we first started to compare notes, I detected - first and foremost in the writing, and then in the spirit animating everyone who was beginning work on the project - a level of freedom which Gomorrah – The Series had never allowed itself. [..] But it happened with Gomorra - Le Origini, there was something along the lines of “Once upon a time in Naples” that took place, with an in-depth story about a time which was marked by emotional change as well as social and political change.”

Scripted by Leonardo Fasoli, Maddalena Ravagli and Roberto Saviano, the story boasts costumes by Olivia Bellini and production design by Fabrizio D’Arpino.

World distribution of Gomorra – Le origini will fall to German firm Beta Film.