Marco Calvani, the Italian star who delivered a breakout performance in Netflix’s “The Four Seasons,” is leaning into his roots for “Italianna,” Universal Pictures and Will Packer Productions’ upcoming romantic comedy starring Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page.
Directed by Kat Coiro (“Marry Me,” “Matlock”) from a screenplay by Ryan Engle (“Rampage,” “Beast”), “Italianna” will be released theatrically on April 10, 2026.
Calvani, who is also a playwright and filmmaker, joins the project after making his U.S. acting debut in “The Four Seasons,” Tina Fey’s adaptation of the 1981 Alan Alda film by the same name. Calvani plays the charming (yet sometimes over-the-top) Claude, husband to Colman Domingo’s Danny, in the comedy about a group of friends navigating life, love and loss. Calvani told Variety that Domingo, whom he calls a “dear friend,” recruited him for the role while he was working on his second feature. (Calvani’s feature directorial debut, “High Tide,” premiered last year at SXSW to critical acclaim; his sophomore film, “Capitana,” which he co-wrote and will direct, is forthcoming.)
“[He] called me one morning and was like, ‘Hey, are you still an actor?’ And I spontaneously said, ‘No.’ And he was like, ‘Dammit, I really had a vision for you. Would you be open to put yourself on tape?’” Calvani recalled. “So I said yes, not knowing really what it was, how big it was. It would’ve scared me. It was smart of him not telling me right away.”
Now, Calvani will co-star in “Italianna,” which is based on an original idea by Ryan Engle and Kristin Engle. Plot details, including Calvani’s role, are largely being kept under wraps, but producer Will Packer recently described the project as “aspirational,” telling Variety that he kept a target audience — a Black woman in the Gen Z age bracket — in mind while developing the movie. “I want her to see herself on that screen and believe in the dream and promise of love and greater things beyond our world,” he explained.
Packer and Johanna Byer will produce the film through Will Packer Productions’ first-look deal with Universal Pictures. Senior EVP Erik Baiers and director of development Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project for the studio. Alvie Hurtado will oversee the project for Will Packer Productions.
Calvani is represented by UTA, Fusion Entertainment, Kovert Creative, and Gang Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.
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