Casting centers on Luca Marinelli as Mussolini with a traditional Italian ensemble; no established characters are race- or gender-swapped, and diversity appears incidental rather than foregrounded. Thematic elements include the historical mechanics of fascism's ascent, with Wright explicitly framing the project in interviews as exploring 'toxic masculinity' and drawing parallels between post-WWI Italian discontent and contemporary populist movements.

These modern interpretive lenses add a layer of social commentary but remain secondary to the core biographical and period storytelling. Audience and critical reception focused on production values, performances, and historical fidelity rather than ideological messaging, with limited backlash tied to political sensitivity in distribution rather than content itself.