‘The Decameron’ Netflix Series: What We Know So Far

Everything you need to know about Jenji Kohan's next show for Netflix.

Tigran Asatryan What's on Netflix Avatar

The Decameron Netflix Series

Netflix is set to release a new series, The Decameron, a soapy period drama comedy set during the Black Death produced by the creator of Orange is the New Black.

The series is created by Kathleen Jordan, creator of Netflix’s Teenage Bounty Hunters, and Jenji Kohan executive produced the teen drama alongside her and Orange is the New Black. Jordan will write and serve as the showrunner.

What’s on Netflix first reported The Decameron in March 2022 with Netflix subsequently confirming the project in August 2022.

Kohan’s overall deal with Netflix was struck back in November 2017 with her outfit, Titled Productions.

Mike Uppendahl (Ratched, American Crime Story) is set to direct.

Jenji Kohan commented on the project in August 2022:

“Kathleen Jordan is the real freakin’ deal. I am so excited and grateful that I get to work with her and we get to make this awesome, funny, timely, weird show together for Netflix.”

Jenji Kohan

Jenji Kohan – Picture: Getty Images

Jordan executive produces The Decameron with Kohan, Blake McCormick and Tara Herrmann for Tilted Productions as well as Mike Uppendahl. Jordan said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled that I get to work with Jenji, Tara, Blake, and Netflix again. I can’t wait for people to meet this ridiculous group of characters. I’m sure Giovanni Boccaccio would be… confused?”

Here’s everything we know about Netflix’s The Decameron:


What’s the plot of The Decameron?

the decameron series netflix

The new Netflix series is loosely inspired by The Decameron, the famous collection of witty, racy, and sometimes tragic short stories about love by the 14th-century Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio.

The Decameron is set in 1348 when the Black Death, the deadliest pandemic in human history that killed as many as 200 million people, strikes hard in Florence. A handful of nobles are invited to retreat with their servants to a grand villa in the Italian countryside and await the pestilence with a lavish holiday. But as social rules wear thin, what starts as a wine-soaked sex romp in the hills of Tuscany descends into an all-out scramble for survival.

The series examines the timely themes of class systems, power struggles, and survival in a pandemic with a touch of levity, brought together by a charming and riotous ensemble of characters. Jordan reportedly drew from the period and the setting of The Decameron, considered a masterpiece of classic Italian prose. Still, almost the entirety of her creative vision for the series is original.


Who is cast in The Decameron?

In mid-December 2022, Netflix announced a cast of at least ten members that will feature in Netflix’s The Decameron.

Here’s a full breakdown of who will star and their character names in The Decameron:

  • Amar Chadha-Patel (Willow) as Dioneo
  • Saoirse Jackson (Derry Girls) as Misia
  • Tony Hale (Arrested Development) as Sirisco
  • Zosia Mamet (The Kids Are All Right) as Pampinea
  • Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education) as Licisca
  • Leila Farzad (I Hate Suzie) as Stratilia
  • Lou Gala (Pourquoi je vis) as Neifile
  • Jessica Plummer (The Girl Before) as Filomena
  • Karan Gill (Screw) as Panfilo
  • Douggie McMeekin (Chernobyl) as Tindaro
the decameron netflix series cast grid

Cast grid for The Decameron on Netflix


What’s the production status of The Decameron? Where is the new series filming?

Pre-production on the show took place throughout the latter stages of 2022, with the cameras officially rolling from January 2023. The series will film throughout much of 2023, with the current wrap date expected to be June 9th, 2023.

The series is being filmed in Rome, Italy, and Viterbo, Italy (around a 2-hour drive from Rome).

On January 10th, 2023, Jenji Kohan posted on Instagram that filming was underway with the caption, “First day of shooting!”

the decameron netflix series cast grid


How many episodes will be in The Decameron?

Netflix has confirmed that there will be eight one-hour episodes in the first season of The Decameron.


What’s the Netflix release date for The Decameron?

Netflix hasn’t announced any dates for The Decameron; considering the production schedule, we can expect only a very late 2023 or, more likely, a 2024 release date.

Are you looking forward to The Decameron coming soon to Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below.

Written by

Tigran is our resident previews writer. He works on collecting everything known about upcoming Netflix Original projects and also is editor-in-chief of Redanian Intelligence. Resides in France.