Rainbow to Bring Corto Maltese to Life

Italy’s Rainbow is set to bring adventurer Corto Maltese to the screen in a new live-action TV series based on Hugo Pratt’s graphic novels.

The first graphic novel, called A Ballad of the Salty Sea, was originally published in 1967. Rainbow manages the licensing rights for Corto Maltese worldwide, while its new partnership with Cong Sa, which holds Pratt’s artistic legacy, marks the start of the character’s fresh adventures.

Iginio Straffi, Rainbow founder and CEO, said: “This project is a dream come true. I am a huge fan of Hugo Pratt and have always wanted to be able to work on Corto Maltese. I have been waiting patiently for the right time and the proper artistic resources to pay homage to one of the most important Italian authors in the world. Finally, this day has arrived, and I am very excited; it is really a great honor for me.”

Patrizia Zanotti, head of Cong Sa—Hugo Pratt Art Properties, added, “I am convinced that, thanks to the insights and passionate professionalism of Iginio Straffi, this new way of telling Corto Maltese will help expand the imagination of new generations by conveying the core values of the character created by Hugo Pratt: adventure, freedom, curiosity, friendship and respect for different cultures.”