Cinecittà Studios CEO Nicola Maccanico on Impending Pain of SAG-AFTRA Strike: It Could ‘Become a Big Problem for Us’
variety.comNick Vivarelli International Correspondent Nicola Maccanico, a former Warner Bros. and Sky Italia senior exec, has been spearheading the radical overhaul of Rome’s Cinecittà Studios since June 2021, when the government-owned facilities secured a multi-million dollar loan provided by the European Union’s post-pandemic recovery fund to upgrade and expand the iconic facilities.
Under Maccanico’s watch, the studios – which now boast 20 state-of-the-art soundstages and one of Europe’s largest LED walls – have become a magnet for Hollywood productions, such as Netflix’s period soap “The Decameron” and Roland Emmerich’s gladiator series “Those About to Die,” which is still currently shooting.
But, of course, the SAG-AFTRA strike is starting to slow things down and could “become a big problem,” as Maccanico tells Variety below. You were just at Venice where several films shot at Cinecittà launched, one being Saverio Costanzo’s “Finally Dawn.” How are the studios doing?
Are you feeling the pain of the SAG-AFTRA strike? We are in good health. After bringing the studios back in the black [with a €1.8 million ($1.9 million) profit for fiscal 2022], we are on a growth trajectory for 2023.
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