Synchronicity Films, producer of the soon to broadcast The Cry, has secured the rights to Heather Morris’ bestselling novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and is already in development as a multi-part, high-end international drama series.
Synchronicity, which has a first look deal with DRG, has also attached Jacquelin Perske to adapt Morris’ best-selling book. Perske wrote the screenplay for Synchronicity’s forthcoming BBC One drama The Cry, adapting it from the novel of the same name.
The series of The Tattooist of Auschwitz is planned to be ready for broadcast in January 2020, to tie in with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
First published in January 2018, The Tattooist of Auschwitz has gone on to receive huge critical acclaim, selling more than three quarters of a million copies to date. It tells of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner who was given the job of tattooing identification numbers on prisoners’ arms in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during World War Two and his love affair with fellow prisoner Gita.
Claire Mundell (pictured), founder and creative director at Synchronicity Films, struck the deal for the book rights with CAA, representing Bonnier Books UK. Mundell said: “We are beyond thrilled to have secured the rights to this incredibly brilliant, confronting and uplifting book. I fell in love with it within a few pages and was desperate to bring it to the screen, to reach the widest audience possible for this unforgettable story. There was a huge amount of interest in this title and I am grateful that Heather Morris, Bonnier Books UK and CAA responded so well to our vision for the story.”
Author Heather Morris said: “Lale Sokolov placed a great deal of trust in me when he first shared his story. I am now passing that baton on and am so pleased that Synchronicity Films was successful in negotiating for the rights. Claire and her colleagues have an obvious passion for my book and have demonstrated clear sensitivity to producing a real person’s story. I know Lale will be smiling down at this new phase of his and Gita’s story”.
Kate Parkin, Managing Director of Adult Trade, Bonnier Books UK: comments: “The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a deeply personal story, with universal themes of courage, love and survival. Synchronicity Films was committed to this book from our very first conversation; they had a clear strategy and fully embraced the responsibilities of bringing this story to the small screen. We are delighted that Claire and her team have been successful in securing the rights and we will follow the series’ development with great interest.”
Jon Creamer
Share this story
