Leonardo Maltese, the unexpected Giacomo Leopardi

The Italian mini-series on Giacomo Leopardi has sparked debate. Titled Leopardi: Il poeta dell’infinito, it consists of two episodes and was directed by Sergio Rubini. While critics and viewers passionately discuss the interpretation of what might be considered the most important Italian poet in history (alongside Dante Alighieri and Eugenio Montale), portraying him as a young, passionate and lively figure instead of a melancholic and pessimistic soul, comparisons with previous depictions of the Recanati-born poet (such as Il giovane favoloso, starring Elio Germano) abound. Here, however, we want to focus on the protagonist, Leonardo Maltese.

Who is Leonardo Maltese, Giacomo Leopardi on the small screen?

Where have we seen him before? In Nostalgia by Marco Bellocchio, for instance. In this dark and dramatic work by the Piacenza-born director, he plays the grown-up protagonist who struggles to detach himself from his life and the church, despite everything. His past roles include Il signore delle mosche by Gianni Amelio and the role of young Gianni Versace in the documentary film Gianni Versace - L'imperatore dei sogni by Mimmo Calopresti. In his future lies L'Abbaglio, directed by Roberto Andò, set to be released on January 16, alongside Toni Servillo, Salvo Ficarra, and Valentino Picone.

Leo Fulcro, his musical project

What many might not know is that Leonardo Maltese also has a musical project. Under the pseudonym Leo Fulcro, the young artist born in Ravenna in 1997 sings and plays with friends and collaborators. His latest release, Parketto, debuted on December 14 and is part of the EP titled Il cuore un po' più grande. Featuring urban sounds, it tells the story of his life and his experiences as a young man and artist. A fun fact? In the track Porta Maggiore, he references L’Infinito, one of Giacomo Leopardi’s most iconic works. And so, the circle closes.

The new boy of the month?

In short, Leonardo is young, very promising, and an imaginative, witty actor and musician on the rise. Given his talent, we’re confident we’ll see him in more projects soon. He has all the qualities to become the new boy of the month, a charming figure for fans who never miss a series. And who knows? In this constant interplay between the small and big screens, he might also contribute to the growth of Italian productions on the international stage, following the success of shining examples like The Bad Guy and L’Amica Geniale.