Berlusconi scandal inspires another film

Silvio Berlusconi (R), leader of the right-wing party `Forza Italia` listens to Matteo Salvini (unseen), leader of the far-right party `Lega` speaking to the press after a meeting with Italian president Sergio Mattarella as part of consultations of political parties, on 7 May, 2018 at the Quirinale palace in Rome. Photo: AFP
Silvio Berlusconi (R), leader of the right-wing party `Forza Italia` listens to Matteo Salvini (unseen), leader of the far-right party `Lega` speaking to the press after a meeting with Italian president Sergio Mattarella as part of consultations of political parties, on 7 May, 2018 at the Quirinale palace in Rome. Photo: AFP

Italy's three-time premier and billionaire Silvio Berlusconi continues to provide ample entertainment fodder, with the first English-language film about his scandal-filled life now in the works.

Based on a journalistic expose, "The Marquise" by Emmy-nominated US producer Steve Jones will focus on a dubious property deal involving Berlusconi's mansion on a privately owned island, trade magazine Variety reported Saturday.

Jones told Variety he would travel to Italy next month to scout for locations and meet actors and potential directors.

The project is the latest of several films on the 81-year-old media mogul who staged a surprise political comeback in 2017.

It comes as Oscar-winner Paolo Sorrentino's lavish biopic "Loro", about the tycoon's infamous "bunga bunga" party era, is about to hit the screens in Italy.

The two-part movie failed to make it into this year's Cannes selection.

Back in 2006, Nanni Moretti's Berlusconi satire "The Caiman" became one of Italy's most successful films that year.