Film & series
Film & Series
From the shadows of the 1986 motion picture to the expanded world of the 2019 television miniseries, discover how Umberto Eco’s medieval mystery reached the screen.
The Screen Adaptations
The Name of the Rose
Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, this atmospheric thriller follows William of Baskerville and Adso of Melk into an isolated abbey where a series of deaths threatens the monks’ fragile world.
Sean Connery · WilliamChristian Slater · AdsoRon Perlman · SalvatoreThe film condenses Eco’s intricate theological and philosophical debates into a visually distinctive detective story, accompanied by James Horner’s score.
Director’s production page ↗
The Name of the Rose
Directed by Giacomo Battiato, this eight-episode adaptation gives additional space to the medieval political conflict and to characters beyond William and Adso.
John Turturro · WilliamDamian Hardung · AdsoRupert Everett · Bernardo GuiIts longer format takes a different narrative route from the 1986 film, while returning to the central mystery of knowledge, authority and belief.
Director’s series page ↗Characters on Screen
Some of the central roles and the actors who portrayed them. Visit the interactive character archive for their stories in Eco’s novel.
Filming Locations
Its historic rooms helped bring the 1986 film’s monastery interiors to life.
Visit the abbey’s website ↗Elaborate sets helped create the imposing fictional abbey, with studio work also used in the 2019 production.
Learn about Cinecittà ↗Its mountain landscapes shaped the world of both screen productions, although not every landscape shot was filmed on location.
Film location notes ↗The castle and surrounding landscapes appear among the recorded locations of the 2019 series.
Series location list ↗Book vs. Screen
The Novel
Eco’s text uses the mystery as a doorway into language, philosophy, medieval politics and the nature of truth.
Explore the novel →
The Film
A compact, atmospheric investigation with a sharper focus on William and Adso’s search for answers.
View the 1986 film ↑
The Series
Eight episodes allow a wider account of religious conflict, political intrigue and human stories around the abbey.
View the 2019 series ↑Explore Further
Which version should I watch first?
The 1986 film is a concise introduction to the central mystery. The 2019 series offers more time with the political background. Both differ from the book, so neither replaces reading the novel.
Are the buildings real medieval abbeys?
Some filming took place at historic locations such as Kloster Eberbach, while other environments were constructed for the productions.
Are these images official film photographs?
No. The images on this independent fan page are original illustrative artwork, not official movie or television stills.
Sources: Jean-Jacques Annaud’s official production page, Giacomo Battiato’s official series page, Filmportal and Italy for Movies. Unofficial fan-created guide; no affiliation with the rights holders.