Sergio Peris-Mencheta delivers an intense performance as Cesare, the historical inspiration behind Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince . The movie tracks his internal torment and eventual cold-blooded transformation from an unwilling, frustrated prince of the Church into a brilliant, ruthless military commander. Lucrezia Borgia (María Valverde) The Borgia (2006) - IMDb
However, The Borgia 's legacy was ultimately overshadowed by the production of a more famous competitor. Even before the film's release, the Spanish mini-major Filmax announced it was selling the film in Berlin, beating out Neil Jordan's long-mooted but "yet-to-coalesce 'Borgia' project". Just a few years later, that project coalesced into Showtime's The Borgias , a massive international hit starring Jeremy Irons. The Borgia -2006-2006
An important aspect of The Borgia 's production history is its origins as a television project. Originally conceived as a television miniseries, the film was ultimately re-edited for theatrical release in Spain, where it achieved box office success. The television heritage explains certain structural elements—moments that feel like episode cliffhangers, narrative beats that suggest broader arcs—that some critics identified as weaknesses in the theatrical cut. Even before the film's release, the Spanish mini-major
As the born warrior of the family, Cesare is deeply embittered by his father's command to join the clergy as a cardinal, while his less competent brother Juan is appointed Captain General of the Vatican army. Originally conceived as a television miniseries, the film
However, 2006 was a pivotal year for the Assassin's Creed franchise (released in 2007), which heavily features the Borgia family, and it was also the year the film The Da Vinci Code was released, sparking a renewed massive interest in historical conspiracy thrillers involving the Vatican.
By treating the family with historical nuance rather than purely sensationalized folklore, the 2006 production established a lasting aesthetic standard for Renaissance dramas. The Plot: From Papal Conclave to Dynastic Decay
The production relies on a highly regarded, multi-national European ensemble.