Netflix has solidified deal for a series order for the novel, The Liberator; the anticipated animated drama series will based on true events that happened during World War II.
The series is based on Alex Kershaw’s 2013 book The Liberator: One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau. The project’s series creator Jeb Stuart, is known for his works such as Die Hard and The Fugitive and will take on writing and executive-producer duties for the drama. Kershaw will also serve as a co-producer for the series.
The concept brings to mind another animated memoir adaptation, 2008’s Israeli animated documentary Waltz with Bashir which was written and directed by war veteran Ari Folman. The film follows Folman as he searches for his lost memories of the 1982 Lebanon War and his experiences as a soldier.
Netflix’s description for The Liberator describes it as, “the riveting true story of the bloodiest and most dramatic march to victory of the Second World War: the battlefield odyssey of maverick U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks and his infantry unit as they fought for over 500 days to liberate Europe.”
It will compliment the original novel’s premise well, where it follows the very same World War II infantry unit throughout the invasion of Italy to the gates of Dachau. At the time, no other unit in Europe saw more action or endured worse than the one commanded by Felix Sparks. He was considered a “maverick officer” and is known as the only man to survive his company’s harsh wartime journey from the very beginning to it’s end.
The intended four-part drama will center on Sparks and the 157th Infantry Regiment from Oklahoma, which was a National Guard unit comprised primarily of cowboys, Native Americans and Mexican-Americans. The unit itself is notorious for serving up until the end of the Korean War.
Tvline originally reported this story.