Leonardo (2011 TV series) (original) (raw)
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British adventure series
| Leonardo | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Action / Adventure |
| Starring | Jonathan BaileyFlora Spencer-LonghurstAkemnji NdifornyenColin Ryan Alistair McGowanJames Clyde |
| Theme music composer | Mark Russell |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 26 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Anne Brogan, Melanie Stokes |
| Producer | Bernard Krichefski |
| Cinematography | Dirk Nel |
| Editors | Sue Wyatt, Philip Hookway |
| Production company | Kindle Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBBC |
| Release | 11 April 2011 (2011-04-11) –6 December 2012 (2012-12-06) |
Leonardo is a British action-adventure television series which aired on the CBBC for two series between 2011 and 2012. Set in 15th-century Florence, the show follows the adventures of a teenage Leonardo da Vinci played by Jonathan Bailey.
An exciting action-packed 13-episode series full of mystery, adventure and an unfolding love story, which steps back in time 500 years. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Renaissance Florence, Leonardo is far from a typical period drama. It's fast-paced with modern music and language, and a fashion sense that is more high street than high culture. At the heart of the group is the young Leonardo da Vinci, or simply Leo, played by Jonathan Bailey. Working as an apprentice, he's not just a genius; he's an unstoppable, free-thinking creative force who's always ten steps ahead of the rest.
With the threat of Pietro de' Medici hanging over them, Leonardo (Bailey) and his friends are determined to keep their heads down. But not for long. The second series of the hit show kicks off from start to finish as Florence plunges into an unjustified war. Secrets, murders and family loyalties fly everywhere as the story line unfolds to its epic climax.
- Leonardo da Vinci played by Jonathan Bailey
- Also known as Leo, he is an artist at Verrocchio's workshop. He loves painting, inventing, and creating new things.
- Tomaso/Lisa Gherardini played by Flora Spencer-Longhurst
- "Tom" is a girl who lives disguised as a male apprentice. She changed her name to Tomaso (her father's name) and ran away to join Verrocchio's workshop in Florence, in defiance of the 15th-century laws that banned women from becoming artists. She is the subject of the Mona Lisa and earlier versions.
- Niccolò Machiavelli played by Akemnji Ndifornyen
- Niccolò or "Mac" is the number one man when it come to fraud or theft and has a network of urchin spies and cut-purses throughout the city. He likes money-making schemes, chariot-racing and mingling with the rich and famous. Leo sometimes has to get him out of trouble.
- Lorenzo de' Medici played by Colin Ryan
- A wealthy boy, part of Florence's prestigious Medici family, he is largely bored by his life of luxury and enjoys sneaking away to join his friends. He is anxious to please his father whom he greatly admires.
- Piero de' Medici played by Alistair McGowan (series 1) and James Clyde (series 2)
- An ambitious man and cousin to the Duke of Florence, Piero keeps a close eye on all happenings in Florence, especially those that concern his son Lorenzo and his friends. He heads the mysterious secret society, the Luminari.
- Maestro Verrocchio played by James Cuningham
- Leo and Tom's maestro, Verrocchio is very strict and becomes impatient if his apprentices waste time. Leonardo is very loyal to his Maestro.
- Cosimo played by Thembalethu Ntuli
- A servant at Verrocchio's workshop
- Teresa de' Medici played by Camilla Waldman
- Lorenzo's doting mother
- Placidi played by Bart Fouche
- Head of Security at the Medici Palace and Piero's right-hand man in series 2
- Angelica Visconti played by Roxane Hayward
- The rich and beautiful daughter of the wealthy Visconti family and Lorenzo's fiancée in series 2
- Rocco de' Medici played by Clayton Boyd
- The hot-headed long-lost son of the Duke of Florence in series 2
Leonardo began as a novel outline by Tom Mason and Dan Danko portraying Leonardo da Vinci as a "teenage Renaissance Batman". Although never actually used in a book, Mason and Danko were able to interest the BBC in their unpublished story idea. It was optioned by the BBC in late 2009 and the pre-production was completed by summer 2010. The first series of Leonardo was shot on location in South Africa throughout the second half of 2010.[1] A second series was completed on location in Cape Town and was aired in 2012.[2] Roxane Hayward, Bart Fouche, Katie McGlynn and Pam St. Clement guest-starred in the second series.
A second series premiered on the CBBC on 20 September 2012, starting with episodes one and two being shown back to back as an hour-long instalments called Illusion. For Series 2, actor James Clyde replaced Alistair McGowan in the role of Piero de' Medici.
Spin-off online game
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In 2012 an online game based on the second series was released. Entitled Leonardo, the game allows players to defeat the villain Il Drago who has stolen Leonardo's inventions.[3] The game was nominated for a 2013 KidScreen Award for Best Companion Website.[4]
In 2012, Leonardo won three KidScreen Awards for Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series, Best Music, and Best Design.[5] It was also nominated for the Ivor Novello Award for Best Television Soundtrack,[6] the Best Youth Program Award at the Banff World Media Festival,[7] and the Award for Youth Fiction at the Rose d'Or.[8] It was also nominated for a children's television award at the Prix Jeunesse International Festival in Munich.[9]
- Da Vinci's Demons, another fictional account of Leonardo da Vinci's early life
- Cultural depictions of Leonardo da Vinci
- Personal life of Leonardo da Vinci
- ^ Mason, Tom. "Leonardo on CBBC". Comix 411. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "New and returning drama". BBC. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ Dickson, Jeremy (14 September 2012). "BBC commissions Kindle and Plug-in Media for online games". Kidscreen. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ Dickson, Jeremy (19 November 2012). "2013 Kidscreen Awards nominees announced". IKids News.
- ^ Castleman, Lana. "And the 2012 Kidscreen Awards go to…". Kidscreen.
- ^ "All-female shortlist is a first for Ivor Novello awards". BBC News. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ "2012 Nominee Showcase". Banff World Media Festival. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ "Nominees". Rose d'Or. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ "Prix Jeunesse International Finalists TV". Prix Jeunesse International München. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- Leonardo at IMDb
- Leonardo at BBC Online
