Full Breakdown
Sergio Leone’s Epic Quest Reimagined: New Origins Film Announced
5/12/2026, 8:27:42 PM
Core Announcement – Tracing a 15-Year Dream
Leone Film Group, the Italian company founded by the late director’s family, announced an origins picture that will dramatize Sergio Leone’s fifteen-year effort to bring the gangster epic *Once Upon a Time in America* to the screen. The untitled film will follow the director from his childhood through the international negotiations that culminated in the 1984 Cannes premiere.
Background & Context – The 1984 Masterpiece
*Once Upon a Time in America* debuted at Cannes in 1984 to mixed reviews but has since been re-evaluated as a cinematic masterpiece. Its production required Leone to secure financing from producer Arnon Milchan and to coordinate shoots across multiple continents, a process that defined his reputation for ambitious, long-term projects.
Key Figures & Production Partners
- Raffaella Leone – daughter of Sergio Leone, co-CEO of Leone Film Group, and producer of the origins film.
- Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio – chief strategy officer of EssilorLuxottica, president of Ray-Ban, and holder of a 19 % stake in Leone Film Group; co-producer.
- Giuseppe Stasi & Giancarlo Fontana – Italian directing duo known for Prime Video’s series *The Bad Guy*; attached as directors.
- Ludovica Rampoldi & Davide Serino – co-creators of *The Bad Guy*; co-writers of the screenplay.
Timeline of Development
- 1984 – *Once Upon a Time in America* premieres at Cannes.
- May 2026 – Leone Film Group announces the origins project while attending Cannes for *Paper Tiger*.
- Mid-2026 onward – Pre-production, script development, and location scouting across Rome, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and Cannes commence.
Data & Statistics – Scope and Stakeholding
- The original film required 15 years of development before completion.
- The new film will feature five primary locations reflecting Leone’s trans-Atlantic journey.
- Leonardo Del Vecchio controls 19 % of Leone Film Group, underscoring the company’s blend of cultural and commercial leadership.
Why It Matters – Cultural and Industry Impact
By dramatizing Leone’s relentless pursuit, the project highlights the director’s influence on modern crime cinema and re-asserts Italy’s capacity to produce globally resonant biographical epics. Its presence at Cannes signals a renewed market interest in legacy-driven storytelling and may inspire similar retrospectives of auteur careers.
Official Statements & Responses
Leone Film Group described the film as a “story of a man who chases a dream for his entire life,” emphasizing the blend of ambition and irony that defined Sergio Leone’s approach. The company indicated that the narrative will interweave flashbacks of Leone’s childhood with his later negotiations, aiming to capture both personal and professional dimensions of the saga.
Criticism & Opposition
No dissenting commentary or criticism was reported in the available sources.
Verbatim Quotes
> “Or, at least, who took 15 years to make a movie and didn’t do anything else until he managed to make it. And it’s told with my father’s irony.” — Raffaella Leone, Co-CEO, Leone Film Group
What’s Next – Production Outlook
The origins film is currently in development, with Stasi and Fontana attached to direct and the screenplay being refined by Rampoldi and Serino. Leone Film Group will continue to promote the project at upcoming film markets, leveraging its Cannes presence alongside the *Paper Tiger* delegation. Pre-production activities are slated for the remainder of 2026, after which principal photography is expected to commence in the listed locations.
