Antonio Banderas to play Gianni Versace

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Aug 31, 2015

Antonio Bandera wears a smile on his face from behind a set of tailors' dummies. In the picture's caption, posted on Instagram on August 24th, the Spanish actor explains he's about to start his second week at Central Saint Martins, London's prestigious fashion and art college. He's attending a one-month intensive course to familiarise himself with the world of fashion and design.

The film star is learning the skills of the fashion trade, preparing himself for his next movie, in which he'll play the role of Italian designer Gianni Versace.

The film, dedicated to the founder of Milan's Versace fashion house, murdered in Miami Beach on July 15th 1997, will be directed by Dane Bille August with production set to start in March 2016.

Antonio Banderas, 55, announced the project as he visited Italy this summer, at the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest. The actor, who debuted with Pedro Almodóvar before enjoying a Hollywood success, stated to the local press: "I love fashion. To play Gianni Versace's role will be fantastic. His life was an incredible story, considering where he started from, as well as his tragic ending."