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What Is He Doing In The Woods With His Hat?

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (17)

the_borgias_jeremy_irons.jpg

I was introduced to the Borgias the same way I was introduced to homoerotic undertones: through The Hardy Boys Casefiles. Yes, casefile #13: The Borgia Dagger.

The Wikipedia entry for the historical Borgias family describes them as having “been accused of many different crimes, generally on considerable evidence, including adultery, simony, theft, rape, bribery, incest, and murder.” [Shakes head]. Simony though, can you believe it? This bloke here raped seventeen people, including his sister, killed another fifteen, looted their bodies and then paid off the cops. But it’s the simony that really puts it over the top. Oh, and one of them managed to become Pope in the 15th century. Now that’s a Pope.

I don’t think there’s any question that list makes them perfect material for a pay-cable historical series in the vein of Rome and a half dozen others. And really, is there anyone you can think of who’d make a better patriarch to this family than old Humbert Humbert himself, Jeremy Irons? Trailer below, and it looks fantastic.

“The Borgias” has begun filming under show runner Neil Jordan and will air sometime in 2011 on Showtime.

(source: SlashFilm)









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Comments

Oh, and one of them managed to become Pope in the 15th century. Now that’s a Pope.

Rodrigo Borgia AKA Pope Alexander VI AKA The Villain in Assassin's Creed 2.

Posted by: Fredo at December 8, 2010 10:06 AM

Show runner Neil Jordan

Um, I think you buried the lede there.

Posted by: Three-nineteen at December 8, 2010 10:08 AM

Yeah, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood! Wait...

Posted by: twig at December 8, 2010 10:29 AM

Rodrigo Borgia AKA Pope Alexander VI AKA The Villain in Assassin's Creed 2.

For better or worse, that's the first thing I thought of, too (man, do I need to get my hands on Brotherhood).

The question is, as always, which Jeremy Irons will we get? I can only hope it won't be the Dungeons and Dragons one.

Posted by: Perfect Tommy at December 8, 2010 10:30 AM

Perfect Tommy

For a 'filler' game cracked out in a year, it's surprisingly fun. As in, I was locked into playing six hours a day until I got through it. Just as addictive as AC:2.

I'm still waiting for the writers to remember Desmond is a character they're eventually going to have to give some kind of personality, but other than that, a surprisingly good experience.

Posted by: twig at December 8, 2010 10:38 AM

My minor in undergrad was art history. I wrote a paper on Lucrezia. The Borgias are absolutely fascinating and utterly deserving of a good movie/series. This looks like it could be absolutely wonderful.

Posted by: Melody at December 8, 2010 10:49 AM

No one plays sexually-voracious-but-profoundly-messed-up-little-boy-in-a-delicious-man-suit like Jeremy Irons (Damage, Dead Ringazzzz!!!!!). But his next-best talent is playing corrupted wicked evil guy with handcuffs in the nightstand.

Either way, he's mine and all you bitches need to back off.

Posted by: klingonfree at December 8, 2010 11:02 AM

Bah ha ha! All I can thank about is Assassin's Creed. Definitely going to be watching this.

Posted by: Candee at December 8, 2010 11:28 AM

man, do I need to get my hands on Brotherhood).

If you liked AC 2, you'll like Brotherhood. More of the same.

Posted by: Fredo at December 8, 2010 11:35 AM

klingonfree, the only way my brain wants to read that is with nightcuffs in the handstand which I am starting to think might be more entertaining.

Also, my husband loved the first couple of seasons of The Tudors and came to me really excited after a preview of this, but couldn't remember the name of the show. My first guess? The Medici.

Now THAT, I would watch.

Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at December 8, 2010 11:59 AM

I'm very wary of this after what a steaming turd "The Tudors" turned out to be, but there's loads of Showtime material in this one without the need to rape history. And it DOES look good. And Colm Feore! So I'll schedule my rant for episode... let's say... five?

Posted by: wojtek at December 8, 2010 1:28 PM

For a 'filler' game cracked out in a year, it's surprisingly fun. As in, I was locked into playing six hours a day until I got through it. Just as addictive as AC:2.

If you liked AC 2, you'll like Brotherhood. More of the same.

Well, then. I'm sold. Merry Christmas to me.

Posted by: Perfect Tommy at December 8, 2010 2:07 PM

Mario Puzo wrote a book featuring them some years ago, though for the life of me I can't remember which one- The Family, maybe? I read it in high school and remember it being wonderfully fucked up and back-stabby.

Posted by: RyanH at December 8, 2010 3:34 PM

AC: Brotherhood kicks all kinds of ass. Watching your recruits shank some fool from a hay cart alone makes this purchase worth it.

Posted by: Nomanisat at December 8, 2010 4:04 PM

The Borgias - sweet Godtopus, I LOVE the Borgias. Even if two-thirds of the evil shit associated with the names is bad press written by their enemies after they were dead, who the hell cares?

I shall watch this!

Posted by: The Wanderer at December 8, 2010 5:09 PM

The Borgias are one of my favorite families. I might have to subscribe to Showtime for this one. It looks more authentic than The Tudors or Rome. And, what pretty people!! Should be a great show.

Posted by: mslewis at December 8, 2010 7:19 PM

Anne, the Borgias made the Medici seem like mere schoolchildren with some of the things they did.

Posted by: Melody at December 9, 2010 11:16 AM