In 2016, the famous Rome studios - where US productions such as Ben-Hur and Gangs Of New York filmed as well as many Italian masterpieces from Federico Fellini to Nanni Moretti - returned to state ownership after 20 years’ of private management. Now, a €37m investment from Italy’s Ministry of Culture will see the studios expand in terms of its facilities and its wider cultural remit, becoming a creative hub for all audiovisual production, including videogames.

The refurbishment will span the next three years. The aim is for the business to break even by the end of that period. Currently, 60% of the studio’s budget is covered by earnings. “We are going to build two new soundstages, one of which will be the biggest in Cinecittà,” announced Roberto Cicutto, president of Luce-Cinecittà, the state-owned company managing the studios. “We will also restore the Teatro 7, which was destroyed by the bombings during the Second World War. It will have a pool for underwater shooting as well as new technologies.”