Riccardo Scamarcio Joins Cast of "John Wick 2"

Update to our original January 18 post..

- According to the Hollywood Reporter, the follow-up to John Wick has been given an official title — John Wick, Chapter 2 — and a release date from Lionsgate: Feb. 10, 2017.

It's just been reported that Keanu Reeves is in Rome shooting his new film, "John Wick 2" with Italian actors Riccardo Scamarcio and Claudia Gerini. The film is an action-thriller and sequel to "John Wick". Shooting began last October in New York City. John Wick, played by Reeves, is a hitman that comes out of retirement to seek vengeance for the theft of his vintage car and the killing of his puppy, a gift from his recently deceased wife. The scenes being shot in Italy for the sequel reportedly take his career to the international level.

Riccardo Scamarcio

One of Italy's most recognizable faces, Riccardo Scamarcio has built a solid career based on the diversity in the roles he chooses and the intensity with which he plays them.

Born in Puglia in 1979 under the sign of Scorpio, Scamarcio has been widely recognized for his striking southern Italian looks and was labeled a sex symbol right away. That label was not all bad for him as it opened doors in his career and paved the way for him to take on complicated roles and prove that he is more than just another handsome face. He studied acting at the Scuola Nazionale di Cinema in Rome and also did some modeling during his college years. His first role was in a TV mini-series in 2001, and his first feature film role in was in Luca Lucini's 2004 hit, "Tre metri sopra il cielo" (Three Steps Over Heaven), which solidified his teen-idol status but also gave audiences insight into the talent of one of Italy's most celebrated actors. However it was his role as Andrea Utano in Marco Tullio Giordana's 6-hour epic film, "La meglio gioventù" (The Best of Youth) that put Scamarcio on the map as serious cinematic contender.

Another film that’s had much success worldwide is Daniele Luchetti's "Mio fratello è figlio unico" (My Brother is an Only Child). The 2007 film is a coming of age story that centers on two brothers with different beliefs living in turbulent times. Brothers Accio and Manrico, played by Scamarcio and Elio Germano, grow up in the 60's and 70's during Italy's restless political climate. One is communist while the other is fascist. Putting their differences aside in order to keep their family together is the biggest challenge they face. Writers Stefano Rulli and Sandro Petraglia, who also wrote "La meglio gioventù" created another well scripted film, which also serves as a history lesson about Italy's tumultuous past. Scamarcio shines as the confident, vocal brother who seems to get whatever he wants with his outgoing personality.

Scamarcio presented a quite different character in the French film, “Eden à l’Ouest” (East is West), which was directed by Costa-Gravas in 2009. With strong conviction, Scamarcio takes on the starring role of Elias, an exhausted but diligent illegal immigrant that travels through Europe in search of work. Along the way, he meets other migrant workers like himself who are just trying to make a living and support their families in the European Union. The film premiered at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival and has won many accolades along the way, including the Critic’s Award at the City of Lights, a French Film Festival held in Los Angeles.

Riccardo Scamarcio makes an effort to keep his personal life private, with the exception of his relationship with Italian actress/director Valeria Golino. The two met during the shooting of their film, "Texas", which was directed by Fausto Paravidino in 2005. The gorgeous couple is a fixture on Red Carpets all over the world.

Scamarcio recently finished up a theater engagement as Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet" at the Teatro Eliseo in Rome. In an interview with Italian Vogue, he said, "It seems absurd, but I wanted to do theater out of a purely artistic, professional need." The play was a success and gave audiences the opportunity to see the actor perform in a much more intimate setting.

Scamarcio's films have had much international success and many are available through the internet including, "La meglio gioventù" and "Mio fratello è figlio unico", which are both available through Amazon.

Comments

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann. Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...

Alessandro Gassmann: Born to Act

Alessandro Gassmannin his directorial debut "Razzabastarda" Alessandro Gassmann is the son of the iconic Italian actor/director Vittorio Gassman and French actress Juliette Mayniel. He was born in 1965 and grew up around cinema royalty. He made his cinema debut in 1982 at the age of 17 in his father's autobiographical film, "Di padre in figlio." He went on to study his craft under his father's direction at the Theatre Workshop of Florence. Vittorio Gassman was very active in theater and seemed just as comfortable on stage as he did in front of the camera. Known for his powerful interpretations of Dante's "Inferno" and "Paradiso," it is no surprise that he nurtured his son's acting aspirations on stage before he launched his career in television and film. One of Gassmann's strong qualities, which he undoubtedly inherited from his father is his incredible range and ease in going from genre to genre. He can play ...

The Extraordinary Career and Legacy of Dino De Laurentiis

Producer Dino De Laurentiis was one of the most prolific filmmakers ever, having produced or co-produced more than 600 films during a career that spanned seven decades. His legacy continues not only through the work of his children and grandchildren but also through a new generation of filmmakers in his Italian hometown. De Laurentiis was born in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius on Aug. 8, 1919, in the city of Torre Annunziata, located just minutes from the ruins of Pompeii. As a child, he worked at a local pasta factory owned and operated by his father. That experience had a profound effect on him, shaping a lifelong passion for food and an appreciation for business. At the age of 17, he decided to leave home for the big city. He arrived in Rome and enrolled in the prestigious film school, Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. After attending the school for about a year, he managed to produce one film in 1940, The Last Combat , before having to leave Rome temporarily for m...

The Sweetness and Genius of Giulietta Masina

Fellini and Masina on the set of "La Strada" As open-hearted and sunny as Federico Fellini was dark and complex, they were perfect counterpoints during a half-century of marriage and professional collaboration. Nicknamed a “female Chaplin” and described by Chaplin himself as the actress who moved him most, Giulietta Masina confronted the tragedy of her characters with an eternal innocence and enthusiasm that gave Italians hope in the most challenging of times. Born in 1921 in San Giorgio di Piano, a commune north of Bologna, Masina was the oldest of four children born to a father who was a music professor and violinist and a mother who was a grade-school teacher. Her parents sent her as a child to live in Rome with her widowed aunt while she attended school there. As Masina took an early interest in gymnastics, her aunt saw in her a passion for performing and encouraged her to pursue acting. So after high school, Masina attended Rome’s La...

Isabella Ferrari- the Damsel and the Thinker

Isabella Ferrari is a versatile actress whose trademark pouty lips and intense, melancholy eyes have been gracing Italian screens for more than three decades. Born in Piacenza on March 31, 1964, Ferrari has perfected the art of playing contrasting roles like the damsel in distress and the complicated, intellectual. Influenced by Italian auteur cinema, which encompasses the neo-realistic approach to filmmaking, she delivers powerful performances with each role she tackles. Ferrari's small screen debut goes back to 1981 in Gianni Boncompagni's television program, "Under the Stars." Two years later, she made her big screen debut in the summer comedy, "Il ras del quartiere." Diego Abatantuono, the star of the Oscar winning film, "Mediterraneo," co-wrote and starred in the film, which put Isabella Ferrari on the map and she hasn't stopped working since. Open Roads 2005: Isabella Ferrari, Antonio Monda and Renato De Maria With doz...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog