10/03/2021 - Starring Monica Bellucci and produced by Lucky Red, the Italian director is filming the prequel to the top-grossing Christmas comedy which starred Paola Cortellesi as its protagonist

Actress Monica Bellucci and director Paola Randi

Filming kicked off last week on La Befana vien di notte 2 - Le origini [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the prequel to the hugely successful comedy The Legend of the Christmas Witch [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], which was directed by Michele Soavi, which starred Paola Cortellesi in the lead role and which was produced and distributed by Lucky Red during the 2018 Christmas holidays (racking up 7.7 million euros in takings). Helming proceedings this time round to offer up this second chapter on the friendly witch disguised as a primary school teacher, is Paola Randi (Into Paradiso [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Little Tito and the Aliens [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Paola Randi
film profile], and the director of several episodes of the Netflix series Luna Nera [+see also:
series review
series profile], as well as of another series coming courtesy of Netflix which is due to drop in April: Zero [+see also:
series review
series profile]).

Written once again by Nicola Guaglianone, teamed once more with Menotti (the coupling behind the screenplay of They Call Me Jeeg [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Gabriele Mainetti
film profile]), the film avails itself of an exceptional cast led by Monica Bellucci (recently seen in The Man Who Sold His Skin [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kaouther Ben Hania
film profile] and The Best Years of a Life [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claude Lelouch
film profile]), but also starring the much-loved influencer Zoe Massenti (who takes Cortellesi’s place as the younger witch), as well as Alessandro Haber, Herbert Ballerina, Corrado Guzzanti and, in a totally unexpected role, Fabio De Luigi.

It’s the 18th century, and Paola (Massenti), a delinquent street kid who’s always looking for trouble, unexpectedly finds herself stymying the plans of the terrible Baron De Michelis (De Luigi), a small, hunchbacked man who is never without his faithful yet ill-treated servant Marmotta (Ballerina) and who harbours a boundless thirst for power teamed with an immeasurable hatred of witches. The sweet but incredibly powerful Dolores (Bellucci) - a good witch who dedicates her life to children – steps in and saves Paola from an already burning stake. Between magical learnings, fast-paced pursuits, incredible transformations and a whole lot of trouble, Paola discovers that destiny has something very special in store for her.

La Befana vien di notte 2 - Le origini is produced by Lucky Red alongside Rai Cinema and in collaboration with Sky. The film will be distributed by 01 Distribution, presumably for this Christmas, Covid permitting.

(Translated from Italian)