Jesse Williams Starrer ‘Hotel Costiera’ Hits No. 1 on Prime U.S.: ‘The Appetite for Bold, Sky-Blue Drama Is Clear’ (EXCLUSIVE)

It’s time to check in: “Hotel Costiera” has hit No. 1 on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S.

“It’s a huge moment for us all,” said Jens Richter, CEO Commercial and International at Fremantle, which is selling “Hotel Costiera” to bullish results.

“The appetite for this kind of bold, sky-blue drama is clear – it’s connecting with audiences globally and ticking all the right boxes for buyers. It’s a great example of premium storytelling with a truly global perspective and appeal.”

The show follows Daniel De Luca (“Grey’s Anatomy” alumnus Jesse Williams), a half Italian former U.S. Marine. Daniel returns to Italy, the land of his childhood, as a fixer in one of the world’s most luxurious hotels, located on the coastline of Positano.

In addition to dealing with the wealthy guests’ problems, Daniel is also on the trail of Alice, one of the owner’s daughters who disappeared a month earlier. He must do everything he can to bring her home, but facing those who kidnapped the girl will be more challenging than any problem Daniel has ever faced.

In an interview with Variety, Jesse Williams admitted he “really loved the [show’s] world.”

“I think I really gravitated towards this guy who had fully committed himself to something in the military and finds himself having to start over. He’s also a character who’s from two worlds. I think there was a relatability factor there, as somebody who’s American but biracial in a polarized country and authentically of two worlds.”

He added: “I had been, at the time, wanting to think more about global creativity: thinking outside the borders of the U.S. I always found that interesting. I went to film school, and that’s the lens through which I see the world. You watch Fellini and you’re learning about other places, like also Korea and Japan, through their cinema. Americans aren’t always known for their ability to open up and process and absorb other cultures.”

Co-produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Luca Bernabei for Lux Vide, a Fremantle company, “Hotel Costiera” is filmed in English and directed by Emmy Award winner Adam Bernstein and by Giacomo Martelli. Based on an idea by Bernabei, the series is written by Elena Bucaccio, Matthew Parkhill and Francesco Arlanch.

Maria Chiara Giannetta, Jordan Alexandra, Antonio Gerardi, Sam Haygarth, Tommaso Ragno, Amanda Campana, Pierpaolo Spollon, Alejandra Onieva and Jean-Hugues Anglade also star.

“We’d been looking for a story to set on the Amalfi Coast for a long time. It’s where everyone dreams of living: one of Italy’s most loved spots. Then came the idea of a former U.S. Marine who helps the guests of a luxury hotel solve their problems, and everything fell into place,” admitted Bucaccio, co-creator and Head of Drama at Lux Vide.

“We suddenly had the genre, the perspective and a format we could build on, thanks to the unwavering support of our incredible partners at Amazon Prime Video. ‘Hotel Costiera’ is set in Italy, but it resonates perfectly internationally, and that’s its real strength. Hitting No.1 in the U.S. on Prime Video underlines this fact.”