Memoirs of Hadrian Lands TV Adaptation

Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment (ILBE), producer of Prime Video’s upcoming Cruel Intentions, has picked up the rights to adapt Marguerite Yourcenar’s Memoirs of Hadrian as a TV series.

The novel follows the life of Publius Aelius Hadrianus, successor of Traiano. As emperor, Hadrian defended his love for the arts, caused controversy around his bisexuality, dealt with immense loneliness and many tragedies as well as victories and loves and ultimately had a lasting impact on European history and culture.

ILBE, founded by Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi, will tell the story of the emperor across six episodes. The adaptation is being written and scripted by Francesco Piccolo (Il desiderio di essere come tutti).

“We are thrilled to announce this new production that brings to life the extraordinary world of Marguerite Yourcenar through the pen of Francesco Piccolo,” said Iervolino, CEO of ILBE Group. “We are ready to bring the compelling and complex story of Emperor Hadrian to the screen, exploring his free spirit and personal challenges in a series that promises to bring viewers the story of one of the most influential figures in ancient Roman history. Hadrian’s life is told at a time of great historical change, of traumatic revolutions in values that occurred between the end of paganism and the beginning of Christianity, a time of transition similar to today’s world landscape, which is constantly shaken by profound transformations.”