Boris - Characters & Cast

Initially, his motivation is simply survival: to get through the day and collect his paycheck. However, a latent desire for artistic validation constantly gnaws at him, leading to brief, often disastrous, attempts at creating something meaningful. His ultimate motivation is to prove, mostly to himself, that he is more than just a hack.

René begins as a deeply cynical and defeated director, resigned to churning out terrible television. His arc is a series of failed attempts to recapture his artistic soul. In Season 3, he tries to make a quality show, but is sabotaged by the network. In Boris - The Film, his attempt to direct a serious political exposé is co-opted and turned into a crass comedy, pushing him to the brink of despair. By Season 4, he faces the new, algorithm-driven world of streaming platforms, still fighting the same battles against mediocrity, but with a glimmer of hope in the finale where he manages to secretly shoot his own artistic project.

His initial motivation is a pure, artistic ambition to become a great director. This slowly morphs into a more pragmatic desire to simply survive and build a career. In Season 4, his motivation is to succeed within the corporate structure of the streaming platform, even if it means enforcing the same absurd rules he once suffered under.

Alessandro's journey is a classic coming-of-age story set in a soul-crushing environment. He starts as the idealistic intern, referred to as "lo schiavo" (the slave), believing in the magic of cinema. Season by season, the industry's harsh realities chip away at his optimism. He learns the rules of the game, becoming more competent but also more jaded. His arc culminates in Season 4, where he has completed his transformation by becoming a cynical executive at the streaming platform, now embodying the very system he once despised. He has climbed the ladder, but lost his initial innocence along the way.

His motivation is pure, unadulterated ego. He craves fame, adulation, and validation as a serious, international artist, despite having no talent to back it up. He is driven by a desperate need to appear sophisticated and important.

Stanis is a largely static character, which is central to his comedic function. He is the epitome of the mediocre actor who believes he is a genius. Throughout the series, his defining traits—arrogance, a self-important rejection of "Italian-style" acting, and a complete lack of self-awareness—remain constant. His arc is less about personal growth and more about how his unchangeable absurdity adapts to new contexts, from low-budget fiction in the early seasons to producing and starring in a pretentious series about Jesus for a streaming platform in Season 4. He never learns or changes, consistently serving as a source of conflict and a parody of actorly vanity.

Her motivation is professional pride and a deep-seated need for order and efficiency. She is driven by the desire to get the job done correctly, despite the constant obstacles thrown in her way by the cast, crew, and network.

Arianna is the hyper-competent, perpetually exasperated assistant director and the true backbone of the set. Her arc is one of endurance. While other characters dream of art or fame, Arianna simply tries to do her job professionally amidst the chaos. She maintains her high standards and work ethic throughout the series, acting as the anchor of sanity. Her development is subtle; she becomes tougher and more commanding over time, but her core challenge remains the same: managing the incompetence of those around her. She represents the thankless struggle of the truly capable in a dysfunctional system.