Amazon today announced it will debut two new dramatic pilots, “Casanova” and “Sneaky Pete,” on Friday, August 7 on Amazon Instant Video in the US, UK and Germany.
“Casanova” chronicles a little-known period in the life of one of 18th century’s most famous playboys. Exiled from his beloved Venice, renowned playboy Giacomo Casanova (Diego Luna) flees to Paris at the dawn of the Enlightenment in hopes of putting his reputation behind him. But old habits die hard, and temptation is everywhere as Casanova finds a wealth of new opportunity…and trouble.
“Casanova,” shot on-location in three European countries, tells the sprawling, epic, true story of one of history’s most misunderstood men, Giacomo Casanova, the 18th century’s most controversial playboy. “Casanova” marks the television debut of Oscar-nominated director Jean Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) and stars Diego Luna (Y Tu Mama Tambien), Bojana Novakovic (“Shameless”), Miranda Richardson (Sleepy Hollow) and Ben Daniels (“House of Cards”), is written by Stuart Zicherman (“The Americans”), and Executive Produced by Jeunet, Zicherman and Electus’ Ben Silverman (“Tudors,” “Marco Polo”).
“Sneaky Pete” revolves around a con-man (Giovanni Ribisi) who, after leaving prison, takes cover from his past by assuming the identity of his cellmate, Pete. He moves in with Pete’s unsuspecting family and is roped into the family’s bail bond business. In order to keep the charade up, he plays the part of a skip tracer, taking down criminals worse than himself—and discovering a family life he’s never had.
“Sneaky Pete,” a co-production with Sony Pictures Television, stars Giovanni Ribisi (Avatar), Marin Ireland (Side Effects), Margo Martindale (“The Millers”), Peter Gerety (“Prime Suspect”), Libe Barer (“Parenthood”) and Shane McRae (Still Alice). The pilot is directed by Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses), written by David Shore (“Battle Creek,” “House”), Executive Produced by David Shore, Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), James Degus (“All the Way”) and Erin Gunn (“Battle Creek”), with a story by Shore and Cranston.
“We’re delighted to bring one of history’s most fascinating periods to life in ‘Casanova’ and a world-class performance by Giovanni Ribisi in ‘Sneaky Pete,’” said Roy Price, Vice President, Amazon Studios. “Our customers have provided valuable feedback on our shows and have helped make them some of the most critically-acclaimed series. Casanova and Sneaky Pete could be among those shows and I look forward to seeing our customer feedback.”
