“Sandokan” Returns: How Rai Revives an Iconic IP for the Global Drama Market
With the revival of Sandokan, Rai brings back one of the most iconic intellectual properties in the history of Italian television through a new event series developed for both domestic and international audiences. Originally launched in 1976 – with Kabir Bedi in the title role and directed by Sergio Sollima- and based on the novels by Emilio Salgari, Sandokan has long represented a cornerstone of Italy’s audiovisual heritage. This new adaptation reflects Rai’s strategic commitment to high-quality scripted content with strong global appeal, reinforcing the role of public service broadcasting in supporting the international positioning of Italian storytelling and production.
Following its presentation at the Rome Film Festival, Sandokan premiered on December 1 on Rai 1 as an eight‑episode prime‑time event series. The Sandokan myth still holds strong appeal for audiences, reaffirming itself as a family appointment. Rai’s Entertainment Division has defined Sandokan as a “living” and strategic project. The premiere registered an average viewership of 5.8 million viewers with a 33.9% share, reaching peaks of 45.2% among the female 15-24 target demographic and 39.9% among men in the same age group.
The title is also available in 4K on Rai 4K via Tivùsat, ensuring high technical standards for nationwide distribution. The project is produced by Lux Vide (a Fremantle company) in collaboration with Rai Fiction and was conceived from the outset for international circulation. Global distribution is handled by Fremantle, with a dedicated rollout in key territories, including Spain.
Designed as a large-scale premium event series, the project follows a co-production model aligned with contemporary international drama standards in terms of budget, production value and narrative scope. The series is directed by Jan Maria Michelini and Nicola Abbatangelo and features a multinational cast, led by Can Yaman in the title role, alongside Alanah Bloor, Alessandro Preziosi, Ed Westwick, Madeleine Price and John Hannah. Its limited, multi-night prime-time structure strengthens its positioning both as a major domestic television event and as a highly exportable global drama property.
The “Sandokan” theme song also became an icon of the original series, with the unmistakable timbre of the sitar creating hypnotic sonorities that accompanied the show in the 1970s. Composed, like the entire soundtrack, by Oliver Onions, it has been reimagined in a modern key by Calibro 35 for the new series.
Set in Borneo in the first half of the 19th century, the story unfolds against a backdrop of colonial expansion, resistance and power struggles, preserving the epic and adventurous spirit of Salgari’s original novels while speaking to themes that remain highly relevant for today’s global audiences. At the same time, the production highlights Italy’s growing role as a competitive and versatile international production hub. Filming took place across Lazio, Tuscany and Calabria, with Italian locations successfully doubling for Southeast Asian landscapes.
The series also reflects the effectiveness of Italy’s production infrastructure, tax incentives and the strategic role of regional film commissions in supporting large-scale, internationally oriented projects. In Calabria, in particular, a significant portion of the production was hosted in backlot/studios set up in Lamezia Terme, built specifically (in the industrial area) to recreate the British colony of Labuan. Major set constructions recreated the British colonial outpost, confirming the increasing relevance of southern Italy within the national production ecosystem.
Nearly fifty years after the original Rai series transformed Sandokan into a cultural phenomenon, the character now returns not only as a television icon, but as a strategic audiovisual asset for the global drama market, reaffirming the international potential of Italy’s literary and television heritage.
Source: Rai
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With the revival of Sandokan, Rai brings back one of the most iconic intellectual properties in the history of Italian television through a new event series developed for both domestic and international audiences. Originally launched in 1976 – with Kabir Bedi in the title role and directed by Sergio Sollima- and based on the novels by Emilio Salgari, Sandokan has long represented a cornerstone of Italy’s audiovisual heritage. This new adaptation reflects Rai’s strategic commitment to high-quality scripted content with strong global appeal, reinforcing the role of public service broadcasting in supporting the international positioning of Italian storytelling and production.
Following its presentation at the Rome Film Festival, Sandokan premiered on December 1 on Rai 1 as an eight‑episode prime‑time event series. The Sandokan myth still holds strong appeal for audiences, reaffirming itself as a family appointment. Rai’s Entertainment Division has defined Sandokan as a “living” and strategic project. The premiere registered an average viewership of 5.8 million viewers with a 33.9% share, reaching peaks of 45.2% among the female 15-24 target demographic and 39.9% among men in the same age group.
The title is also available in 4K on Rai 4K via Tivùsat, ensuring high technical standards for nationwide distribution. The project is produced by Lux Vide (a Fremantle company) in collaboration with Rai Fiction and was conceived from the outset for international circulation. Global distribution is handled by Fremantle, with a dedicated rollout in key territories, including Spain.
Designed as a large-scale premium event series, the project follows a co-production model aligned with contemporary international drama standards in terms of budget, production value and narrative scope. The series is directed by Jan Maria Michelini and Nicola Abbatangelo and features a multinational cast, led by Can Yaman in the title role, alongside Alanah Bloor, Alessandro Preziosi, Ed Westwick, Madeleine Price and John Hannah. Its limited, multi-night prime-time structure strengthens its positioning both as a major domestic television event and as a highly exportable global drama property.
The “Sandokan” theme song also became an icon of the original series, with the unmistakable timbre of the sitar creating hypnotic sonorities that accompanied the show in the 1970s. Composed, like the entire soundtrack, by Oliver Onions, it has been reimagined in a modern key by Calibro 35 for the new series.
Set in Borneo in the first half of the 19th century, the story unfolds against a backdrop of colonial expansion, resistance and power struggles, preserving the epic and adventurous spirit of Salgari’s original novels while speaking to themes that remain highly relevant for today’s global audiences. At the same time, the production highlights Italy’s growing role as a competitive and versatile international production hub. Filming took place across Lazio, Tuscany and Calabria, with Italian locations successfully doubling for Southeast Asian landscapes.
The series also reflects the effectiveness of Italy’s production infrastructure, tax incentives and the strategic role of regional film commissions in supporting large-scale, internationally oriented projects. In Calabria, in particular, a significant portion of the production was hosted in backlot/studios set up in Lamezia Terme, built specifically (in the industrial area) to recreate the British colony of Labuan. Major set constructions recreated the British colonial outpost, confirming the increasing relevance of southern Italy within the national production ecosystem.
Nearly fifty years after the original Rai series transformed Sandokan into a cultural phenomenon, the character now returns not only as a television icon, but as a strategic audiovisual asset for the global drama market, reaffirming the international potential of Italy’s literary and television heritage.
Source: Rai
Share:
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