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"Tom Riley has been cast as the lead in new drama Da Vinci&amp;#039;s Demons. The series - a co-production between Starz and BBC Worldwide - will be written by Man of Steel scribe David S Goyer. St Trinian&amp;#039;s 2 star Riley will play a 25-year-old Leonardo da Vinci, described as &amp;quot;an artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist&amp;quot;. &amp;quot;Leonardo had to be smart, witty and incredibly confident - without coming across as arrogant,&amp;quot; explained Goyer. &amp;quot;He also had to be tormented, because, as a true visionary and polymath, he was ostracised for his ideas as much as he was celebrated.  &amp;quot;Tom came in and was able to effortlessly combine all of those elements. As soon as he finished his audition, we knew we&amp;#039;d found our man.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;Da Vinci is a near mythic figure in history that fascinates people to this day,&amp;quot; added Starz managing director Carmi Zlotnik. &amp;quot;It is quite an undertaking to bring to life a role that comes with so many pre-conceived notions. Tom showed us that there are many dimensions to this man yet to be explored, and, at the same time, make him believable, surprising and unique to a worldwide audience.&amp;quot; Riley has previously appeared in episodes of Marple and Lost in Austen. He will also reprise his role as Lawrence Shepherd in the second series of ITV1&amp;#039;s medical drama Monroe. Doctor Who&amp;#039;s Julie Gardner will executive produce Da Vinci&amp;#039;s Demons alongside BBC Worldwide Productions&amp;#039; head Jane Tranter.  The eight-part series will enter production in summer 2012 and will air on Starz in 2013. &amp;gt; Starz developing Marco Polo drama "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/news/a361606/tom-riley-to-play-leonardo-da-vinci-in-starz-drama-da-vincis-demons/>