Da Vinci's Demons

Da Vinci's Demons is a historical fantasy drama series that presents a fictional account of Leonardo da Vinci's early life.[1][2] The series was conceived by David S. Goyer and stars Tom Riley in the title role.[3] It was developed and produced in collaboration with BBC Worldwide and was shot in Wales.[4] The series has been distributed to over 120 countries.[5]

Da Vinci's Demons
Genre
Created byDavid S. Goyer
Starring
Theme music composerBear McCreary
Composer(s)Bear McCreary
Country of origin
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes28 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Producer(s)Marco Ramirez
Matthew Bouch
Production location(s)Wales
Cinematography
Editor(s)
  • Tim Murrell
  • Philip Kloss
  • John Richards
  • Nick Arthurs
Camera setupMultiple
Running time47–55 minutes
Production company(s)
  • Phantom Four Films
  • Adjacent Productions
DistributorTonto Films and Television Limited
Release
Original network
  • Starz (United States)
  • Fox (United Kingdom)
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Audio formatDolby Digital 5.1
Original release12 April 2013 (2013-04-12) –
26 December 2015 (2015-12-26)
External links
Official website

The show follows Leonardo as he is implicated in the political schemes of the Medici and Pazzi families and their contrasting relationships with the Catholic Church. These events occur alongside Leonardo's quest to obtain the Book of Leaves as he finds himself entangled with a cult known as the Sons of Mithras.

The series premiered in the United States on Starz on 12 April 2013, and its second season premiered on 22 March 2014.[6] The series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on 24 October 2015.[7] On 23 July 2015, Starz announced that the third season would be the show's last.[8] However, Goyer has left it open for a miniseries return.[9]

Plot

A fictionalised story based on historical persons, the series explores the early life of Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance in Italy. He is an eccentric genius who has struggled to deal with his inner demons and unruly imagination, as he yearns for acceptance from his estranged father. Their sometimes antagonistic relationship results in Leonardo's working for the House of Medici. While doing so, he becomes embroiled in a political scheme to control Florence, as he hunts for a spy who is revealing information to the Catholic Church and the Pazzi family. He also begins an affair with Lucrezia Donati, Lorenzo de' Medici's mistress. The series depicts many of Leonardo's inventions and subsequent works as a military engineer for the Duke of Milan and the Borgias.

These events coincide with Leonardo's quest to uncover the Book of Leaves. He is guided by a mystic to unlock the hidden areas of his mind by accessing the Fountain of Memory, as he becomes involved with a mysterious cult known as the Sons of Mithras. They inform him that he has the power not only to see the future but also to shape it.

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest and cameo

Casting

Tom Riley was the first actor to be cast in the series, as The Hollywood Reporter announced he had landed the role as da Vinci. Goyer and managing director Carmi Zlotnik revealed he was cast as he could portray the character with many dimensions that would appeal to a worldwide audience.[10] They later reported that Laura Haddock had been cast in the female lead as Lucrezia Donati.[11]

Production

The series has marked the first collaboration between Starz and BBC Worldwide following a new production agreement. Fox International Channels picked up the series for global distribution.[2][12] The show was created by Goyer, who directed the first two episodes and wrote several others along writers such as Scott Gimple, Brian Nelson and Joe Ahearne.[13] Julian Court and Jamie Payne were hired as cinematographers who worked interchangeably with the different directors.

Filming for the series took place in the United Kingdom, at Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Margam Castle in Wales. A 265,000-square-foot (24,600 m2) studio in Swansea Gate Business Park was also used and several sets were built to resemble 15th-century Florence.[14] Annie Symons was brought on board as the lead costume designer.[15] Bear McCreary composed the score for the series, and orchestrated the main theme to reflect Leonardo's use of mirror writing.[16] Goyer had a scene in episode five depicting a kiss between Leonardo and Jacopo Saltarelli filmed in secret as he feared network interference.[17]

Goyer revealed to USA Today at the New York Comic Con that season two would also be set in South America and would feature Machu Picchu and the Inca Empire. Goyer claimed that this was justified by "new research" that has revealed Chinese and European explorers may have arrived in the New World earlier than was originally believed.[18]

Sexuality of Leonardo

There is widespread belief that Leonardo was primarily if not exclusively sexually attracted to and involved with men. Goyer acknowledged this and said that the show would not shy away from the subject.[19] Riley cited that because the speculation exists it is something that should be honoured.[20] His possible sexual interest in men is addressed in detail in episode five of season one when he is tried for sodomy. Leonardo describes his sexual relationship with men as a curiosity, as he states "No one defines me."

In a later interview with the gay-interest website The Backlot, Riley expressed his hope that the episode addressed concerns about the show's depiction of Leonardo's sexuality in a way that is satisfactory and respectful to any historical beliefs.[21]

Episodes
Main article: List of Da Vinci's Demons episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
18April 12, 2013 (2013-04-12)June 7, 2013 (2013-06-07)
210March 22, 2014 (2014-03-22)May 31, 2014 (2014-05-31)
310October 24, 2015 (2015-10-24)December 26, 2015 (2015-12-26)

Reception

Season 1 has received favourable reviews from critics. It holds a 63% approval rating on aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes, based on 32 collected critic reviews, with an average score of 6.1/10. The sites consensus reads: "Despite its preposterous plotting and lack of historical accuracy, Da Vinci's Demons is energetic, enjoyable escapist television."[22] It also holds a Metacritic score of 62 out of 100, based on 27 critics reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[23]

Season 2 has also been received well. It holds a 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 8 critics reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. Furthermore, it holds a Metacritic score of 69 out of 100, based on 4 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."

Accolades

Da Vinci's Demons received three nominations for Outstanding Main Title Design, Outstanding Main Title Theme Music and Outstanding Special Visual Effects at the 65th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The series won Main Title Design and Main Title Theme Music, but lost Visual Effects to the Cinemax series Banshee.[24]

Lead actor Tom Riley won best actor for his role as Leonardo da Vinci at the 2014 Bafta Cymru awards, where the show was also nominated for best production design and best costume design.

In Australia, Da Vinci's Demons was rated MA 15+, whereas in New Zealand, it was rated R18 for graphic violence, offensive language and sex scenes.

Home media

DVD

Title No. of discs Release date
Region 1
Region 2
Region 4
The Complete First Season 3 3 September 2013 31 March 2014 7 May 2014
The Complete Second Season 3 (UK/US) / 4 (AUS) 3 March 2015 13 April 2015 2 July 2014
The Complete Third Season 3 (UK/US) / 4 (AUS) 26 January 2016 26 January 2016 26 January 2016

Blu-ray

Title No. of discs Release date
Region A
Region B (UK)
The Complete First Season 3 3 September 2013 31 March 2014
The Complete Second Season 3 3 March 2015 31 August 2015
The Complete Third Season 3 26 January 2016 26 January 2016
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See also

References
  1. Jonathan Jones. "Da Vinci's Demons: the new TV show that totally reinvents Leonardo's life". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  2. Marisa Guthrie (8 August 2011). "Starz Partners with BBC on Original Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  3. Christine Shaw. "Starz and BBC Worldwide Productions announce new original series Da Vinci's Demons". BBC. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  4. Robin Turner. "TV premiere for US show Da Vinci's Demons dazzles Neath". Wales Online. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  5. Unknown. "Tom Riley: Sex, violence and playing the lead in Da Vinci's Demons". Metro. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  6. Lesley Goldberg (25 October 2011). "Starz Orders David Goyer's Da Vinci's Demons to Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  7. NellieAndreeva. "Starz Renews David S. Goyer's Da Vinci's Demons For Season 3 With John Shiban As Showrunner". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  8. Bibel, Sara (23 July 2015). "'DaVinci's Demons' Canceled by Starz After 3 Seasons; Final Season to Premiere Saturday, October 24". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  9. "Da Vinci's Demons: season 4 event series planned". Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  10. Lacy Rose. "Starz Casts British Actor Tom Riley to Play da Vinci in Drama Da Vinci's Demons". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  11. Lesley Goldberg (27 March 2012). "Starz's Da Vinci's Demons Casts British Actress as its Leading Lady". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  12. Jon Weisman. "BBC Worldwide Prods. eyes new shows". Variety. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  13. Dave Mcnary. "Universal taps writer for "Prosthesis"". Variety. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  14. Elizabeth Perkins. "Da Vinci blockbuster could be a £60m masterpiece for Swansea Bay". This is South Wales. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  15. Unknown. "Da Vinci's Demons designer Annie Symon Turns the Original renaissance man into a rock star". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  16. James Hibberd. "Walking Dead composer to score DaVinci series". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  17. Jim Halterman. "Da Vinci's Demons Sodomy Trial Post-Mortem: Tom Riley & David S. Goyer". The Backlot. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  18. Brian Truitt (10 October 2013). "Sneak peek: Season 2 of Starz's Da Vinci's Demons". USA Today. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  19. Jim Halterman. "Da Vinci's Demons Creator David S. Goyer Talks Not "Shying Away" From Anything". The Backlot. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  20. Jim Halterman. "Interview: Tom Riley Talks Leonardo's Sexuality & Daddy Issues In Da Vinci's Demons". The Backlot. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  21. Jim Halterman. "Defining Da Vinci: Tom Riley Previews This Week's Revealing Episode". The Backlot. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  22. "Da Vinci's Demons: Season 1 (2013)". Flixster. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  23. "Da Vinci's Demons". CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  24. Zach Johnson. "Creative Arts Emmys 2013 Complete List of Winners". E!. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
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