Doug Liman to Direct Story Syndicate & Abot Hameiri Co-Pro

Story Syndicate and Israel-based Abot Hameiri are co-producing an adaptation of Dr. Ronen Bergman’s latest book, with Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith) on board to direct.

The series, adapted from a chapter of Bergman’s Rise and Kill First, tells the story of how Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser secretly hired a team of former Nazi missile scientists to build a missile program that could destroy Israel. In order to stop it, the Israelis had to get former Nazi General Otto Skorzeny to cooperate with them.

In addition to directing, Liman will oversee the development of the show. David Bartis will produce through Hypnotic.

“This is the ultimate spy story, replete with the original James Bond, a nascent Mossad and Israel facing its extinction,” Liman said.

“This is one of the strangest, most surprising and dramatic true stories we have encountered in some time,” said Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus, founders of Story Syndicate. “It is an extraordinary spy thriller and character drama, and we’re so excited to partner with Doug and Guy to bring it to life.”

Guy Hameiri, co-founder of Abot Hameiri, added, “This is a remarkable account from one of the most controversial and thrilling stories in Israel’s history. It’s incredibly exciting to be working with Doug and Dan, who share an irresistible vision for this project and are the perfect creative team to bring this dramatic story to life.”

“This story recounts one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Israeli intelligence operations,” Bergman said. “Israel, a little more than just one decade old, was facing an existential danger. The Mossad and other branches of the Israeli defense establishment were late in discovering the program and realized that there was only one man who could save the situation. He had been described by British intelligence as ‘the most dangerous man in Europe’ and had been a favorite of Hitler’s. But how do you go about recruiting a wealthy, well-connected Nazi?”