Synchronicity Films, producer of the soon to be broadcast “The Cry”, today announces that it 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.
Such is the huge interest in this title that DRG helped finance the option and is supporting the series’ development. Synchronicity has also contracted Jacqueline Perske, who adapted “The Cry” from Helen FitzGerald’s bestselling novel, to write the screenplay. It is planned for the series to be ready for broadcast in January 2020, to tie in with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
First published by imprints Echo and Zaffre – part of Bonnier Books UK – 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 has reached Number 1 in many of the 32 international territories in which it has been sold and has remained in the top 10 fiction hardbacks on the Sunday Times Bestsellers list for over 25 weeks. It has gone straight to Number 4 in the New York Times bestseller lists in its first week of publication in the US and to Number 4 in Canada.
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.
-Claire Mundell, Founder and Creative Director, Synchronicity Films
Based on a powerful, heart-breaking, true story, it tells of Lale Sokolov, a Jew who was given the job of tattooing identification numbers on prisoners’ arms in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during World War Two. One day, he met Gita while she was waiting in line to be tattooed and it was love at first sight. And so began one of the most life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable and human stories of the Holocaust and a tale of the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances.
Claire Mundell, founder and creative director at Synchronicity Films, struck the deal for the book rights with CAA, representing Bonnier Books UK. Claire Mundell comments: “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.”
I know Lale will be smiling down at this new phase of his and Gita’s story.
-Heather Morris
Author Heather Morris adds: “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 sensitivities to producing a real person’s story. I am delighted they have chosen Jacquelin Perske to adapt the book for the small screen. 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.”
