Filming Starts in Naples for Roberto Saviano’s Adaptation ‘Super Santos’ by Palomar and PiperFilm
Principal Photography Begins on "Super Santos"
Principal photography has commenced in Naples for Super Santos, a feature film directed by Italian filmmaker Ciro Visco. The film is loosely based on Roberto Saviano’s 2022 novel Cuore Puro, authored by the writer known for the acclaimed Gomorrah film and television series.
This project marks Visco’s debut as a theatrical director, following his role as assistant director on Gomorrah and Doc: In Your Hands, as well as directing the upcoming Sky Original series Gangs of Milano – Le nuove storie del Blocco.
Super Santos tells the story of four boys united by their passion for street soccer, growing up amidst the challenges posed by Naples’ notorious organized crime syndicate, the Camorra. Saviano’s novel serves as a sequel to an earlier narrative he published in 2011 entitled Super Santos, named after the iconic orange and black soccer ball that symbolizes Naples’ street soccer culture.
Saviano collaborated with screenwriter Stefano Piedimonte and Visco to develop the screenplay for the film. The cast features notable actors including Francesco Di Leva (The Leopard), Massimiliano Rossi, Antonia Truppo (Portobello), alongside newcomers Thomas D’Angelo, Ciro Esposito, Ciro Dommarco, and Danilo D’Ambrosio.
The film is produced by Carlo Degli Esposti, Nicola Serra, and Marco Grifoni for Mediawan subsidiary Palomar, alongside Massimiliano Orfei, Luisa Borella, and Davide Novelli from PiperFilm. It is a Palomar and PiperFilm production, supported by the Fund for the Development of Investments in Cinema and Audiovisual, part of the Ministry of Culture – Directorate-General for Cinema and Audiovisual.
Filming in Naples is scheduled to last approximately six weeks and includes a talented crew. Cristiano Di Nicola serves as the director of photography, with Ludovica Ferrario as production designer, Mariano Tufano as costume designer, and Marcello Saurino as the editor.
Super Santos is set to be distributed in theaters in Italy by PiperFilm and will also reach international audiences through PiperPlay.







