United Media

29. May 2020

The filming of the TV series and film titled “Kralj” directed by Zdravko Šotra, based on the novel by Vuk Drašković, has begun in the White Palace, Belgrade, today.

The series consisting of 15 episodes, on which the film will also be based, will be filmed in the original production of the United Media company, and it will represent a biographical film about King Aleksandar I Karađorđević, based on the novel “Aleksandar od Jugoslavije” by Vuk Drašković.

Due to the state of emergency caused by coronavirus outbreak, the first clap! on set was postponed by more than two months. As soon as it was lifted, and as soon as the Film Center Serbia, producers and Public Health Institute “Batut” reconciled measures and recommendations for safe shooting in conditions of increased risk of infection, all prerequisites have been met for shooting to begin.

Zdravko Šotra, both the director and screenwriter, was on the set of today’s shooting and he did not hide his happiness for the start of works. As he says, they all have got used to safety measures and the crew do not seem bothered about wearing masks and visors.

When it comes to the series itself and Aleksandar Karađorđević, he says it is necessary to provide people with information about a man and events on which they know little. “Everybody has opinion, yet little knowledge and information. This is a particularly important part of our history”, he pointed out.

I believe that this series and the film will at least somewhat restore some image of him. Vuk’s contribution to this project is not a sort of glorifying Aleksandar, however, he is presented as a man with all the weaknesses and virtues that characterized him, Šotra adds.

Vuk Drašković, the author of the novel on which the series is based, was also on the first set.

“The script is faithful to the book as much as possible. In my opinion, Aleksandar is the greatest statesman and military leader in the history of the Serbian people while at the same time the most hated and defamed. Nowadays, he is nailed on the pillar of shame, anathemized because he created Yugoslavia. According to those who destroyed Yugoslavia of the 1990s, he was supposed to create Greater Serbia”, Drašković says.

He adds he believes this series will overcome prejudice against king Aleksandar. “It is not easy. The people have been lobotomized since 1945 and Aleksandar was falsely defamed and was said to be what he never was”.

Ljubomir Bulajić plays the role of King Aleksandar and Tamara Aleksić plays the role of Queen Marija. In addition to these two, around 130 actors and actresses will participate in this great project. The cast also includes Petar Strugar, Branislav Lečić, Žarko Laušević, Sergej Trifunović, Tanasije Uzunović, Nada Macanković, Nataša Ninković, Nela Mihailović, Danica Maksimović, Anica Dobra, Jelica Sretenović, etc.

The TV series will be filmed in locations in Serbia, Montenegro, and France and it will be aired on NOVA S TV.