Dark Knight Writer Creates Da Vincis Demons For BBC and Starz

Davis S Goyer pens eight-episode historical fantasy for a UK/US co-production

Starz (the US network behind Torchwood: Miracle Day ) and the BBC are teaming up to produce an eight-part historical fantasy called Da Vinci’s Demons , written by Dark Knight screenwriter David S Goyer.

Da Vinci's Demons follows the “untold” story of the world’s greatest genius during his raucous youth in Renaissance Florence. Brash and brilliant, the 25 year-old da Vinci is an artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist. As a free thinker, with intellect and talents that are almost superhuman, he struggles to live within the confines of his own reality and time. He begins to not only see the future, but invent it. Which may not sound 100% SFX territory, but reading between the lines, we reckon this is going to be “fanciful” (in the way the new Three Musketeers film is) at the very least.

David Goyer commented, “Da Vinci was the original Renaissance man – a near-mythic figure that has world-wide appeal. After working with characters like Batman and Superman, it made a strange kind of sense for me to dive into the facts and legends swirling around his origins. This will be a show about secret histories, genius, madness, and all things profane. And I’m particularly excited that I get to do it on premium cable, where the story can be as dark and challenging and irreverent as it deserves to be. Starz and BBC Worldwide Productions have been nothing but supportive."

Starz Media Managing Director, Carmi Zlotnik says, “David has reimagined some of the most iconic superheroes of all time, and is again building an extraordinary prism through which to rediscover the world’s greatest genius and most mysterious man. If modern day has Tony Stark, the Renaissance had da Vinci. This is a story we believe will captivate the imaginations of audiences around the world and is the first of what we expect to be many productions with our talented partners at BBC Worldwide Productions.”

Jane Tranter, Head of BBC Worldwide Productions, says, “The young life of this incredibly complex and brilliant man has not yet been explored. With David Goyer, whose imagination has created juggernaut and iconic theatrical features, coupled with the premium presence of Chris Albrecht, Carmi Zlotnik and their Starz team, we couldn’t be more passionate about bringing this story to US viewers and international audiences.”

Dave is a TV and film journalist who specializes in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He's written books about film posters and post-apocalypses, alongside writing for SFX Magazine for many years.