Aidan Turner (The Hobbit, Poldark) is going to play the great painter and scientist Leonardo da Vinci. He will star in the new drama Leonardo (working title, not officially named yet), focusing on the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci during the Italian Renaissance. This is an English drama, Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files) is the operator, Steve Thompson (Sherlock) is the screenwriter, Daniel Percival (The Man in the High Castle) is the director, LuxVide and Big Light Productions are the producers, and Italian National Television (RAI) is also involved. There are 8 episodes in total, and filming will start this year.