Editorial Staff
Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel (“Snowtown”) will direct the small-screen adaptation of Gregory David Roberts’ “Shantaram”.
The “Macbeth” helmer has inked a deal with Paramount Television and Anonymous Content to direct four of the 10-episodes that Apple has ordered of the series. Kurtzel, directing the first two and final two episodes, will kick-off the shoot in October in Victoria, Australia.
Eric Warren Singer, who worked with Paramount on the upcoming “Top Gun : Maverick”, penned the script.
The 2003 novel by Gregory David Roberts fixes on a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escaped from Pentridge Prison and flees to India.
There have been numerous attempts at getting a feature film version of “Shantaram” before the cameras over the years, most of them spearheaded by Johnny Depp, who acquired the rights in 2004.
“Shantaram” will be filmed at Docklands Studios, Pentridge Prison and other locations, including parts of Melbourne and Mumbai.
Joel Edgerton had been attached to star in an earlier version; it’s unclear whether he is still involved.
The 45-year-old Western Australian filmmaker’s latest, “True History of the Kelly Gang” plays at TIFF next month.
