CANNES — Germany’s Story House Pictures, producer of the Beta Film/RTL mega-hit “Sisi,” sold to 120 territories, has optioned what looks like one of the biggest and most ambitious projects coming onto the market at this year’s Mipcom: “The Book of Longing,” a six-part English-language series with an international cast based on the international bestseller of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd.
The novel has been translated in 17 languages and will be the third adaption of one of Kidd’s bestselling works. Her 2001-novel “The Secret Life of Bees” sold 8 million copies and was turned into a major award-winning motion picture starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, and Jennifer Hudson.
Andreas Gutzeit, co-founder of Story House Pictures, the international studio of the Bavaria Film Group,’ and producer and showrunner on “Sisi,” will serve as showrunner leading an international writers room.
Now in development, “The Book of Longings” is set in 20 A.D. in Galilee, an official Roman province for the last 25 years: Ana is the daughter of a high-ranking Jewish scribe at the court of the Rome-appointed Herod Antipas, her father’s profession and influence of her aunt instilling in her a deep love of words and a daring spirit.
Refusing marriage arranged by her father to an old landowner, she incurs the wrath of Herod, but is saved by an enigmatic stranger. They form an instant connection unlike anything the young woman has ever known. His name is Jesus of Nazareth.
“The Book of Longings” is inspired by arguably one of the best-known stories – and biggest IPs – ever. Yet it delivers a take which most people would never have imagined.
That take is grounded, however, on double historical deduction, Gutzeit argued.
“Jesus was Jewish. In order to be a Jewish man, [at that time]you had to take a wife. That is the essential argument that many historians make today of Jesus, the historical figure,” said Gutzeit.
At the time of Jesus’ execution, there were a dozen of other messiahs active in Judea. “What marked Jesus apart was that he did not say: ‘I’m coming to save the Jews from the Romans,’ but rather ‘I’m coming to teach you about love.’ It is perfectly fine for writers in our industry to assume that love is something that you experience,”Gutzeit observed.
He said he is excited by the story of Jesus’ so-called “lost years” being told from the point of view of a woman, Ana. What particularly excited him is that the story turns on values which resonate down to this day.
“Ana lives in a palace, has access to a library, has things that are impossible for almost any other Jew in Judea. She loses everything. Her journey teaches her that these material riches are not important.”
“The ideas that she develops throughout her journey are the same that are important to be communicate today: Brotherly love; compassion; an understanding of different perspectives and poverty. They are at the core of any religion, are basic values that we share as humans,” Gutzeit added.
At Mipcom, Gutzeit will engage in talks with potential co-production partners.
“The Book of Longings” has a bible that breaks down a first season and the beginnings of a script, both his work and that of Swantje Oppermann, a staff writer on “Dignity” and a Story House development executive, who will potentially join the project.
He hoped that the international writers’ room will include writers with a deep understanding of Jewish history, “potentially from Israel.” “We’re telling a Jewish story before this becomes one of Christianity. Casting will be authentic: “It’s not going to be one of those old sandal flics with white American stars. That would just not be timely, not in the 21st century.”
Locations used could be in Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan or Southern Spain.
“This is a story where two people realize what is wrong, what is right, how love can save people and that’s the heart of it. And they’ve experienced exactly that,” Gutzeit concluded.
