The Tattooist of Auschwitz on Stan – Stan, Australia’s unrivalled home of original productions, today announced that the upcoming Stan Original Series The Tattooist of Auschwitz will be led by Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid, World on Fire) and Anna Próchniak (Baptiste, Warsaw 44) starring in the lead roles of Lale Sokolov and Gita Furman. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is produced in partnership with Sky, Peacock, and All3Media International.
This eagerly anticipated adaptation, from the novel that sold 12 million copies worldwide, will also star Critics Choice Awards winner Melanie Lynskey (The Last of Us, Yellowjackets) in the series as Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz novel. Jonas Nay (Deutschland 83, 86, 89) will be joining the series in the role of Stefan Baretzki. Award-winning director Tali Shalom-Ezer (My Days of Mercy, Princess) is attached to direct all six episodes, bringing a unique perspective to the series.
The heartrending series about bravery and love in the darkest of places spanning across eight decades tells the powerful true-life story of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner who is given the job of tattooing identification numbers on fellow prisoners’ arms in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during World War Two.
One day, he meets Gita while she is waiting in line to be tattooed. They experience love at first sight, and so begins a life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable, and human story, told through one man’s memory and experience of Auschwitz-Birkenau; a tale of the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances.
Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie said:
“Stan’s investment in this co-production represents our continued commitment to creating internationally renowned original productions. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a great example of Stan’s strategy to deliver quality film and television content to Australians as well as continuing our partnerships with premium internationals Sky Studios, Peacock and All3Media International. This true storyline that spans across Australia and Europe is incredibly powerful. We look forward to bringing this anticipated series to our audiences with such a stellar cast line-up.”
Jonah Hauer-King, comments:
“It is a huge privilege to be telling Lale’s incredible story — one that he was so courageous to share. I have the utmost respect and admiration for his ability to find humanity and kindness in the most inhumane of places. These scripts heartbreakingly and vividly depict this appalling time in our history, and I feel proud to be honouring Lale and Gita’s remarkable journey.”
Anna Próchniak, adds:
“Reimagining Gita Sokolov and her story for screen has been one of the greatest honours of my career so far, as well as a heartrending experience. I know this won’t be an easy story to tell, but I will treat their story with the utmost respect.”
Melanie Lynskey, adds:
“After the horrors experienced at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the continuation of Lale and Gita Sokolov’s story is finding their new home, and it was years later in Australia Lale felt comfortable to share his story with New Zealand author Heather Morris. As a New Zealand storyteller in my own way, it is a privilege to be a part of the furthering of Lale’s and Gita’s heart-breaking, yet heart-warming story.”
Tali Shalom-Ezer, Director, said:
“In Auschwitz, a factory of death and dehumanisation, Lale and Gita’s love story is an act of defiance. It is the choice to remain human. I’m inspired and honoured to bring this story to life, alongside the talented team of people assembled.”
Claire Mundell, Executive Producer for Synchronicity Films, adds:
“Bringing Lale and Gita’s beautiful love story to the screen is a privilege and to have Jonah, Anna, Melanie, and Jonas joining us on this journey is a dream come true. We’re excited to be working with Tali and her vision for the show, and we’re grateful to Heather for trusting us with her beautiful book. I hope every one of Heather’s 12 million plus readers will come to the show and fall in love with Lale and Gita, as we have.”
Serena Thompson, Executive Producer for Sky Studios, adds:
“The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a powerful, affecting, and timely story. This landmark event series will resonate with viewers the world over and we are pleased to have brought together an incredible team in Synchronicity and our talented cast – Jonah, Anna, Jonas and Melanie – under the superb direction of Tali.”
David Swetman, SVP Content and Commercial Strategy at All3Media International added:
“We are very proud to be working with Sky, our international partners at Peacock, Stan and Viaplay and the team at Synchronicity to bring this important story to audiences next year.”
Currently in production, the series is a co-production between Sky Studios and Peacock with NBCUniversal Global Distribution and All3Media International jointly handling international sales of the series. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is currently in production and will be available on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW in 2024 in the UK, Ireland, Italy and Germany. VIAPLAY wil take Viaplay Series rights for Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland), Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the Netherlands and Poland.
Produced by Synchronicity Films in association with Sky Studios in association with All3Media International, The Tattooist of Auschwitz was commissioned by Serena Thompson, Executive Producer at Sky Studios for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK. Claire Mundell is Executive Producer for Synchronicity Films. Lead Writer Jacquelin Perske is also an Executive Producer on the project and Heather Morris is Story Consultant. Evan Placey and Gabbie Asher are episode writers.
The Stan Original Series The Tattooist of Auschwitz is currently in production and will premiere in 2024.
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