Beta Film and Athens-based Foss Productions are teaming up for a six-hour drama series, “The Great Chimera,” that will bring to the screen for the first time one of the most important Greek novels of the 20th century.
Following on the heels of their collaboration on the hit TV series “The Beach” and Yorgos Zois’ feature film “Arcadia,” which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2024, “The Great Chimera” is produced by Foss Productions in co-production with Beta Film, which is handling international sales. Shooting is underway on the Greek island of Syros, before moving to Athens and Trieste, Italy.
The series is adapted from M. Karagatsis’ boundary-pushing, 1930s-set modern classic, which explores the complex psychological life of a young Greek woman who wants more than the traditional role expected of her. The cast is led by Italy’s Fotinì Peluso (“Everything Calls for Salvation,” “Greek Salad”), who stars as Marina, a restless, young Italian beauty fascinated by classical Greek culture. When she falls in love with Greek shipowner Yannis, played by Andreas Konstantinou (“Milky Way,” “Cloudy Sunday”), she quickly decides to join him to start a new life on the idyllic island of Syros.
Although Marina has left her past behind, she can’t escape an inner strife that only grows stronger with time. Caught between cultures and social expectations, she struggles to balance her passions and desires. Soon she gives in to her love for her husband’s brother, Minas, played by Dimitris Kitsos (“The Beach,” “Maestro in Blue”), and finds herself trapped in her very own Greek tragedy.
“The Great Chimera” is directed by Vardis Marinakis (“Silent Road,” “Zizotek,” “Black Field”) and written by Panagiotis Iosifelis (“The Beach”), with Giorgos Valsamis (“American Girl,” “Milky Way”) serving as DOP. Production services are provided by Beta’s subsidiary, Mompracem. ERT is co-producing and releasing the series in Greece. The series is supported by EKKOMED Creative Greece and co-produced by Boo Productions.
“The Great Chimera” joins Foss Productions’ growing slate of prestige Greek series, including three seasons of Netflix original “Maestro in Blue” and 2023 Series Mania competition selection “Milky Way.” The company’s Crete-set murder mystery “The Beach,” a primetime sensation for public broadcaster ERT that’s being sold internationally by Beta Film, is now in its second season.
