Nearly a decade after producing a feature film version of John Le Carré’s A Most Wanted Man, the independent film studio The Ink Factory (The Night Manager) is creating a German TV version of the 2008 novel, with Snabba Cash writer Oskar Söderlund as the showrunner, via Deadline. At the moment, no network or broadcaster has been announced. A timeline remains unannounced.
The Ink Factory will reunite with Amusement Park to produce the TV adaptation. Both studios produced the 2014 feature film, directed by Dutch filmmaker Anton Corbijn, who is known for filming the music video for Nirvana’s ‘Heart Shaped Box’ and Coldplay’s ‘Talk’. The 2014 film starred Philip Seymour Hoffman (Mockingjay Part I), Willem Dafoe (Spider Man), Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls), and Daniel Brühl (Goodbye, Lenin!).
John Le Carré is best known for his espionage novels, such as A Perfect Spy (1986), and The Night Manager (1993). Le Carré’s A Most Wanted Man (2008) is an acclaimed bestselling novel about spies in “The War on Terror.”
A Most Wanted Man tells the story of Issa, a young Chechen fugitive who illegally takes himself to the German port city of Hamburg. His pockets are empty, but he has a claim to a great fortune held in a private bank. In his pursuit, Issa gets caught in the international war against terror, as he is suspected of financing terrorists. The novel was written alongside the context of George W. Bush’s ‘extraordinary rendition’ policy and inspired by the real-life story of Murat Kurnaz.
“We have great respect for the team at Amusement Park and are excited to be building on our original collaboration to cast one of Le Carré’s most impactful and resonant works in a new light,” said Simon and Stephen Cornwell, co-CEOs and founders of The Ink Factory, via Deadline. “Le Carré’s searing insights into political machinations and the fallible and morally complex people behind them have an eternal relevance, and we are thrilled to be working with the very best in international creative talent in Oskar on this adaptation.”
Amelie von Kienlin and Malte Grunert, partners at Amusement Park, added: “Oskar Söderlund is the perfect fit to turn this story into a relevant and suspenseful thriller series that is rooted locally but will engage an international audience.” (Via Worldscreen)
Oskar Söderlund is a celebrated Swedish screenwriter, and the creator behind Netflix’s Swedish drama Snabba Cash. Snabba Cash was nominated for the Kristallen best drama award, and launched its second season in September 2022. Söderlund’s version of A Most Wanted Man will be updated to a modern day European context, which will be reflected in both the characters and current events.
Söderlund added, “It’s not the first time one can say that we live in troubled times. But this time one thing is missing: the voice of John Le Carré. It feels like he’s always been there, creating great storytelling out of current and dramatic events. What would he say about what is happening right now in the world? That question is the basis for this series. With great honor and humility, I will take a shot at answering that.” (Via Tbivision)