The Sky Italia comedy drama depicting Francesco Totti’s life and career drew attention not just for its subject matter, but also casting figures like Antonio Cassano, Luciano Spalletti, Daniele De Rossi and Rudi Garcia.
The six-part series is called Speravo de Morì Prima, named after a banner that was seen in the stands during Totti’s final match at the Stadio Olimpico.
It translates in Roman dialect to ‘I had hoped to die before this.’
The Sky Italia comedy drama depicting Francesco Totti’s life and career drew attention not just for its subject matter, but also casting figures like Antonio Cassano, Luciano Spalletti, Daniele De Rossi and Rudi Garcia.
The six-part series is called Speravo de Morì Prima, named after a banner that was seen in the stands during Totti’s final match at the Stadio Olimpico.
It translates in Roman dialect to ‘I had hoped to die before this.’
The series covers Totti’s life, career and loves, but above all focuses on the final years of a player who did not feel ready to hang up his boots.
It began last week in Italy and the casting has raised some eyebrows, above all Totti himself, as the actor Pietro Castellitto does not resemble Er Pupone physically, even if he does embody that same quiet sarcastic streak.
The revelation has been Gianmarco Tognazzi as former Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, essentially Totti’s nemesis during the final years, replicating both his visual look and mannerisms precisely.
Ascanio Balbo plays Miralem Pjanic, Gabriel Montesi has perfectly summed up the Bari-accented whirlwind that is a young Antonio Cassano, and Marco Rossetti plays fellow Giallorossi icon Daniele De Rossi.
Roberto Zibetti struggles a little more to inhabit the French accent of Rudi Garcia.