To mark Netflix’s 10th anniversary in Italy, a special panel was held as part of Lucca Comics & Games 2025, titled “10 Years of Netflix in Italy: A Nerd Variety Show.”
The event was hosted by YouTubers/creators Karim Musa (a.k.a. Yotobi) and Stefano Rapone, who led the celebration accompanied by two special guests: actress Carolina Crescentini and comic book artist and showrunner Zerocalcare (a.k.a. Michele Rech).
The event opened with a rather informal and nerdy moment in which Karim and Stefano recommended some series from Netflix’s Italian catalog that deserve attention. Among those mentioned—just to give you a taste—were “Scam” and “Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts,” a sign of how the streaming service has effectively diversified its offerings in Italy as well.
Afterwards, the hosts and guests revisited some key moments from Netflix’s first ten years in Italy: from the first dubbed and localized titles, to Italian original series, to the challenges of the streaming market in Italy. The conversation was lighthearted and humorous, alternating personal memories with professional anecdotes, demonstrating how streaming has now permeated Italian pop culture.
Then it was Zerocalcare’s turn. Between jokes and a few previews (spoiler-free), the author teased the audience with hints about his new series coming to Netflix. He couldn’t say much about it, but Stefano came to the rescue.
Stefano:
“What is the series NOT about?”
Zerocalcare:
“It’s cheerful, like me; it’s for the whole family.”
Although vague, his remarks piqued the audience’s curiosity about what the new project might be. Furthermore, in a brief Q&A with Karim, Zerocalcare suggested some gems from the catalog, like the series The Hole: “three kids who want to make it big in stand-up… it’s really cool”.
Another series suggested by Zerocalcare is Mo: “a series about a Palestinian-American, but it’s funny…”.
Finally, Carolina Crescentini entered the scene, affectionately called by fans “the damned bitch” (an ironic nickname taken from the series Boris, which she herself commented on).
Karim asks her:
“How do you deal with having this name for so many years?”
Carolina replies:
“But I chose; I did everything to do Boris. It’s the only project I’d like to do for the rest of my life… so nothing, I’m happy… It’s bizarre when on the street, when someone says to you ‘we can make a video’ and you say ‘sure,’; they actually want the video to insult me by calling me ‘this bitch,’ and I thank them.”
Carolina then talks about her new Netflix project:
Karim:
“Mrs. Playmen comes out on November 12th. Tell us what it’s about.”
Carolina:
“It’s the story of a real woman named Adelina Tattilo, who finds herself at the helm of a magazine called ‘Vedo non vedo’ (I can see, I don’t see) for a variety of reasons; through this chaos, she transforms and discovers she’s brave and very capable, becoming a key figure…”
The reference to a historical figure and an Italian production highlights how Netflix has gradually invested in “homegrown” content, with a well-defined identity for the Italian audience.
The panel “10 Years of Netflix in Italy: A Variety Show Nerd” had the great merit of deemphasizing, celebrating, and simultaneously reflecting on a decade that changed the way many in Italy consume series and films. With the lightheartedness of Karim and Stefano, the creative presence of Zerocalcare, and the vivacity of Carolina, a fun but also meaningful moment was created for enthusiasts, professionals, and fans of the Italian Netflix brand.
