Matteo Simoni about his role in ‘Zillion’: “Play Dennis Black Magic again? I’ll think twice about that.”

If he were asked again today to play the role of Dennis Black Magic, actor Matteo Simoni would hesitate.

“I didn’t sleep for nights wondering if I should do that,” Matteo Simoni admitted Sofie’s world. Following the biopic about Amy Winehouse, the Radio 1 program sought an answer to the question of how to portray an existing figure.

Simoni already played Rocco Granata in 2013 Marina. In 2022 he was ahead Zillion in the role of the much-discussed porn producer Dennis Burkas, alias Dennis Black Magic. At that time, Burkas had already been convicted several times: twice for raping underage girls, and once again for inciting a minor to prostitution.

“There were people who didn’t support me playing him, and I understand that. I’ve started thinking about that too. Playing people who have a dark side or a criminal past: that is not obvious,” says Simoni. “I did it anyway: there was something in that character that I had a great affinity with. I thought I had to do it for the movie Zillionbut I might think twice about doing it again.”

Trailer: ‘Zillion’

Earlier this month, Burkas was convicted again, this time for harassment, incitement to prostitution, rape and indecent assault of eight women.

“Let it be clear, I do not support the person he is today,” Simoni emphasizes. “That wasn’t necessary Zillionit was about what he was like at that time.”