Bear Grylls’ The Natural Studios Moves into Scripted

The Natural Studios, a joint venture with Banijay Group that is run by Bear Grylls and Delbert Shoopman, is reimagining The Count of Monte Cristo, this time set in Afghanistan.

Written by Tom Williams (Kajaki, Base, Chalet Girls), Monte Cristo will be set in the present day and focus on the friendship and bitter rivalry that develops between two special forces soldiers who are sent to war in Afghanistan. Grylls, Shoopman, Ben Grass and Christophe Charlier serve as producers.

Grylls and Shoopman said: “We loved the idea of updating this universally-loved story of friendships, betrayal and revenge, and were completely taken by Tom Williams’ original and innovative take. This is action-adventure storytelling at its finest and celebrates above all, resilience and redemption.”

Grass and Charlier said: “It’s an honor to collaborate with Bear, Del and Tom, on this fresh reworking of the Alexandre Dumas classic. We aim to create a captivating action film with great scale and sweep that is certain to thrill global audiences.”