Home TV News Sky Announces New Original Ancient Rome Drama ‘Domia’, Starring Kasia Smutniak, Liam Cunningham, Isabella Rossellini & More

Sky Announces New Original Ancient Rome Drama ‘Domia’, Starring Kasia Smutniak, Liam Cunningham, Isabella Rossellini & More

by Dave Elliott

Sky Announces New Original Ancient Rome Drama ‘Domia’, Starring Kasia Smutniak, Liam Cunningham, Isabella Rossellini & More

Sky today announced a new Sky Original series, Domina, which will bring to life the power struggles of Ancient Rome from a different perspective, that of the women.

The drama stars Kasia Smutniak (‘Perfect Strangers’, ‘Them’, ‘Devils’) as Livia Drusilla on her journey from a naïve young girl whose world crumbles in the wake of Julius Caesar’s assassination, to Rome’s most powerful and influential Empress, driven by a deep desire to avenge her father and secure power for her sons. Livia and her peers navigate their way through a brutal society by means of strategy, conspiracy, seduction and murder. This is a visceral and authentic family saga, grounded in historical accuracy and bringing to life the incredible true stories of the women who would create one of the most enduring and fascinating dynasties of all time.

“I am thrilled to be playing such a complex character as Livia Drusilla,” commented Smutniak. “As a frontrunner in defending women’s rights, she was a tough woman who was both feared and cherished and was strong enough to seal the fate of the Roman Empire.”

Joining Smutniak is a stellar international cast including Liam Cunningham (‘Game of Thrones’) playing Livius, Livia’s father, and Isabella Rossellini (‘Blue Velvet’, ‘Death Becomes Her’) playing Balbina, an early enemy. Alongside them star Matthew McNulty (‘Misfits’) as the future emperor Gaius, Christine Bottomley (‘The End of the F***ing World’) as Scribonia, Colette Tchantcho (‘The Witcher’) as Antigone, Ben Batt (‘Captain America: The First Avenger’) as Agrippa, Enzo Cilenti (‘Free Fire’) as Tiberius Claudius Nero, while Claire Forlani (‘Meet Joe Black’) plays Claudia Octavia.

Created and written by Simon Burke (‘Zen’, Fortitude), the lead director is the acclaimed Australian filmmaker Claire McCarthy (‘Ophelia’, ‘The Luminaries’). The rest of the crew also includes top Italian professionals, with costumes designed by the Academy Award-winning Gabriella Pescucci (‘The Age Of Innocence’, ‘Once Upon A Time in America’), production design by Luca Tranchino (‘Prison Break’), make up by Katia Sisto (‘Penny Dreadful’) and hair design by Claudia Catini (‘Trust’).

“This period of Roman history is truth being stranger than fiction,” adds McCarthy, Domina lead director. “I’m tremendously excited to bring this rich and visceral world to life with this incredible troupe of stellar actors and the gifted creative team. What an honour to be working out of Cinecittà studios too where so many of the greats have built cinema history.”

‘Domina’ is a Sky Original produced by Fifty Fathoms (‘Fortitude’) and Sky Studios, with Cattleya as executive production services. The series is executive produced by Patrick Spence, Marcus Wilson, Faye Dorn, Simon Burke and Claire McCarthy and produced by John Phillips.

The series will air exclusively in all Sky territories, in Italy, UK, Ireland, Germany and Spain. NBCUniversal Global Distribution holds international rights in the rest of the world on behalf of Sky Studios.

There is no premiere date yet for Domina, but we’ll let you know when we hear more.

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