Andrea Iervolino, an Italian producer, has ambitious plans to launch a stadium and TV studios into orbit and broadcast the world’s first zero-gravity MMA fight from space. His project, called Galactic Combat, is a reality-show-meets-sports-tournament that follows a group of spacebound fighters. Originally, Iervolino had hoped to launch the project within two or three years, but due to “technical issues” with his aerospace partners, the timeline has been pushed back to about four years.
In the meantime, Iervolino is busy working on various projects on solid ground. One of his most significant endeavors is as a producer on Michael Mann’s biopic Ferrari, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Alongside his business partner, Monika Bacardi, and their production company Iervolina & Lady Bacardi Entertainment (ILBE), they invested $24 million into the $90 million film. Ferrari is just one of many films they have worked on together over the past decade, with Iervolino recently deciding to focus on making films that tell the “amazing stories” of Italy’s entrepreneurial legends. Their latest releases include Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend and an upcoming biopic about Maserati.
Iervolino describes his operation as an “independent studio” with multiple arms. In addition to film production, he has acquired various businesses, including an encoding company, a post-production company, two animation studios in Serbia, a celebrity endorsement company, and a sports marketing company. He has also recently announced the construction of the new $55 million Tuscany Film Studios, which will feature Italy’s largest virtual reality studio and a luxury hotel to attract Hollywood talent.
In addition to his film ventures, Iervolino is the founder and CEO of Space 11, a company dedicated to launching MMA fighters into orbit to the first space station dedicated to entertainment. He is also the creator of TaTaTu, a video-on-demand and social platform that rewards users for viewing and interacting with content on the platform.
TaTaTu initially started as a blockchain-based platform but later shifted its focus to the app, which now allows users to earn coins that can be redeemed through auctions. Surprisingly, the app is listed on the Euronext Growth Paris exchange and currently has a market capitalization of approximately $5.84 billion. Iervolino owns 97 percent of the company, making him incredibly wealthy on paper.
Iervolino’s journey in the film industry began when he was a teenager in his hometown of Cassino. He crowdfunded his first movie by going door-to-door, asking for investments from local businesses. His early adoption of digital filmmaking technology set him apart from others, and he soon started selling his expertise to other producers in need.
Throughout his career, Iervolino has collaborated with industry veterans, such as Luciano Martino, and formed a partnership with Monika Bacardi. Together, they founded AMBI Pictures and produced a range of films with notable stars like Al Pacino, Antonio Banderas, and Lily Collins. They also formed a close relationship with Johnny Depp, leading to several collaborations, including the recently released film In the Fire, starring Amber Heard.
Aside from his film ventures, Iervolino has branched out into other industries, including sports. He acquired a majority stake in SoCal Sports, a sports agency that represents Italian soccer stars, and transformed it into a producer of sports video content. He also recently acquired an ownership stake in U.S. soccer club Miami FC, leveraging video content and image rights to monetize the team.
Overall, Iervolino has built an impressive empire that spans film production, technology, sports, and more. His innovative approach and willingness to explore new avenues have allowed him to create a diverse and successful business portfolio. As he continues to make waves in the industry, it will be exciting to see what he accomplishes next.
