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Diabolik (2021 film)

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Diabolik
Theatrical release poster
Directed byManetti Bros.
Screenplay by
Story by
  • Manetti Bros.
  • Michelangelo La Neve
  • Mario Gomboli
Based onDiabolik
by Angela and Luciana Giussani
Produced by
  • Carlo Macchitella
  • Manetti Bros.
Starring
CinematographyFrancesca Amitrano
Edited byFederico Maria Maneschi
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by01 Distribution
Release dates
  • 15 December 2021 (2021-12-15) (Noir in Festival)
  • 16 December 2021 (2021-12-16) (Italy)
Running time
133 minutes
CountryItaly
LanguageItalian
Budget€10 million[1]
Box office$3.2 million[2]

Diabolik is a 2021 Italian crime action film directed by the Manetti Bros. and based on the comic series of the same name.[3][4] It is the second film adaptation of Diabolik, after Mario Bava's Danger: Diabolik (1968).[3]

The film premiered at the Noir in Festival on 15 December 2021, and was released theatrically in Italy the following day by 01 Distribution. It is followed by two sequels: Diabolik: Ginko Attacks! (2022) and Diabolik: Who Are You? (2023).

Plot

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Legendary thief Diabolik plans his next heist: stealing a valuable diamond from heiress Eva Kant, who is dating the deputy minister of justice, Giorgio Caron. Using one of his trademark masks to impersonate his nemesis, Inspector Ginko, Diabolik tricks Eva into revealing which hotel she will be staying at. He makes another mask to pose as one of the wait staff assigned to her room, and quickly locates the hidden safe where the diamond is kept. However, upon seeing Eva, he becomes infatuated with her.

Diabolik sneaks into Eva's room to steal the diamond, but Eva walks in on him, and he has no choice but to hold her at knifepoint. Eva calmly reveals that she doesn't have the diamond, having already sold it to a dealer in South Africa, and Diabolik leaves. The next day, he returns and unmasks himself in front of Eva; disgusted by the lecherous Giorgio, she starts an affair with him. Unbeknownst to Diabolik, his girlfriend Elisabeth, from whom he has hidden the truth about who he really is, accidentally uncovers his secret hideout. Ginko is notified and arranges a sting operation, resulting in Diabolik's arrest.

At trial, Diabolik is convicted and sentenced to be beheaded via guillotine. When Eva learns of his fate, she has Giorgio use his influence to arrange a clandestine meeting in Diabolik's cell. Once the guards leave, Eva incapacitates Giorgio and Diabolik questions him to learn where he is keeping a file containing information as to Eva's unsavory past, which he had been using to blackmail her. He then dons a mask of Giorgio's face and puts on his clothes to escape, while a drugged Giorgio is fitted with a Diabolik mask and executed in his place. Ginko figures out the deception in time to stop Diabolik from retrieving the file; one of his officers finds it instead.

Needing money to flee the country, Diabolik targets a bank holding expensive jewelry and watches. He has Eva impersonate a rich widow named Ms. Morel to rent a vault. This enables her to learn about the bank's security features so Diabolik can figure out how to bypass them by flooding the bank and using diving equipment to steal the jewels and watches. Ginko, using his knowledge of Diabolik's modus operandi, is able to determine his escape route and briefly holds him at gunpoint before Eva distracts him and he is overpowered by Diabolik. The two make their getaway on a motorboat while Ginko can only watch in defeat.

Sometime later, Diabolik and Eva are on a yacht. To cement their new partnership, he presents her with the diamond, but Eva throws it into the ocean, affirming that she no longer wants to be burdened by her past.

Cast

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Release

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Diabolik premiered as the closing film of the 31st Noir in Festival on 15 December 2021,[7] and was released theatrically in Italy the following day by 01 Distribution.[8][9] It was originally set to be released on 31 December 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.[10]

The film was released digitally in Canada on 20 May 2022 by Mongrel Media.[11] In February 2023, Kino Lorber acquired the rights to the Diabolik trilogy in the United States.[12]

Sequels

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In April 2021, 01 Distribution announced two sequels to Diabolik, which began filming that October.[9] The first sequel, titled Diabolik: Ginko Attacks!, was released on 17 November 2022, also directed by the Manetti Bros.[13] Leone and Mastandrea reprise their roles in the sequel, with Giacomo Gianniotti replacing Marinelli as Diabolik.[14][15] The third and final instalment in the trilogy, Diabolik: Who Are You?, was released on 30 November 2023.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Turrini, Davide (17 December 2021). "Diabolik, l'operazione dei Manetti Bros è filologica con certe nuance da cinema hitchockiano" [Diabolik, the Manetti Bros' operation is philological with certain nuances of Hitchcockian cinema]. il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Diabolik (2021)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Bramesco, Charles (9 October 2019). "Martin Eden's lead will suit up in leather for a Diabolik remake". Little White Lies. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Diabolik con Luca Marinelli in sale il 31 dicembre" (in Italian). ANSA. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Miriam Leone è una sexy e sensuale Eva Kant sul set di 'Diabolik'". TGcom Mediaset (in Italian). 11 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Rossini, Matteo (26 October 2020). "Diabolik, la nuova locandina del film con Luca Marinelli e Miriam Leone" (in Italian). Sky TG24. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Noir 2021: una chiusura Diabolika" [Noir 2021: a Diabolika closure] (in Italian). IULM University of Milan. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  8. ^ Di Francesco, Davide (15 July 2021). "Diabolik, a Ciné – Giornate di Cinema 2021 il trailer presentato dai Manetti Bros" [Diabolik, at Ciné – Giornate di Cinema 2021 the trailer presented by the Manetti Bros]. Ciak (in Italian). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b Carradori, Simona (29 April 2021). "Diabolik e Freaks Out: annunciate le date d'uscita e due sequel per il film dei Manetti Bros" [Diabolik and Freaks Out: release dates and two sequels announced for the Manetti Bros. film]. Best Movie (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Rimandata l'uscita del film di Diabolik" [The release of the Diabolik film has been postponed]. Comicus (in Italian). 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Diabolik". Mongrel Media. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  12. ^ Barraclough, Leo (17 February 2023). "Kino Lorber Picks Up U.S. Rights to All Three 'Diabolik' Movies, Adapted From Smash-Hit Comic-Book Series (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  13. ^ Di Francesco, Davide (25 October 2022). "Diabolik – Ginko all'attacco, il nuovo trailer" [Diabolik – Ginko all'attacco, the new trailer]. Ciak (in Italian). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  14. ^ Berni, Andrea Francesco (2 December 2021). "Diabolik: foto dal set dei sequel a Milano, Giacomo Gianniotti sostituirà Luca Marinelli?" [Diabolik: photos from the set of the sequels in Milan, will Giacomo Gianniotti replace Luca Marinelli?]. BadTaste.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  15. ^ Pasquini, Mattia (22 November 2022). "Giacomo Gianniotti, il Sostituto di Luca Marinelli: Dopo Diabolik, Adesso Sogno Indiana Jones" [Giacomo Gianniotti, Luca Marinelli's Substitute: After Diabolik, Now I Dream of Indiana Jones]. Style Magazine (in Italian). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  16. ^ Barraclough, Leo (1 November 2023). "'Diabolik' Franchise Directors, the Manetti Brothers, on Why We Side With the Master Criminal: 'He Pushes You to Be Free' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
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