CBS Studios & Stampede Ventures take ‘Last Tango In Paris’ with fact-based drama

Last Tango In Paris

CBS Studios and Stampede Ventures have partnered to produce Tango, a limited drama series exploring the controversial events surrounding the making of the 1973 feature film Last Tango In Paris.

The companies will be taking the series, which falls under their international first-look agreement, to market in early 2022.

The series, written by Jeremy Miller and Daniel Cohn, will span the 18 months before, during and after the production of Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci’s erotic drama, told from the perspective of those at the center of the events – including Bertolucci and actors Maria Schneider and Marlon Brando.

During the production’s filming, Bertolucci employed ruthless tactics to capture real emotions that ultimately put the actors in harm’s way. Controversy plagued the film following its release in January of 1973, and while it was a critical hit, Schneider was exploited and ridiculed for her part in the film, which led her down a path of addiction and struggles with mental health.

Lisa Brühlmann (Killing Eve) and José Padilha (Narcos) will co-direct the series, with Greg Silverman and JP Sarni of Stampede Ventures attached to executive produce. Meghan Lyvers, SVP of international co-productions and development at CBS Studios, will shepherd the project for the studio.

“When José and Stampede approached me, I was instantly taken by the project and the chance to look closer at one of the biggest scandals of our industry’s history – despite it not being treated as such at the time. The opportunity to dive into that world, into all these fascinating characters, and especially the possibility of giving Maria Schneider a voice, is really exciting,” commented Brühlmann.