The Tattooist of Auschwitz Being Developed for TV

Synchronicity Films has secured the rights to Heather Morris’s best-selling novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which is in development as a multi-part drama series.

Jacquelin Perske is on board to adapt the book. The series treatment of The Tattooist of Auschwitz is planned to be ready for broadcast in January 2020, timed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Based on a true story, The Tattooist of Auschwitz tells of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner who was given the job of tattooing identification numbers on prisoners’ arms in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during World War II. One day, he met Gita while she was waiting in line to be tattooed and it was love at first sight.

Claire Mundell, founder and creative director at Synchronicity Films, commented: “We are beyond thrilled to have secured the rights to this incredibly brilliant, confronting and uplifting book. I fell in love with it within a few pages and was desperate to bring it to the screen, to reach the widest audience possible for this unforgettable story. There was a huge amount of interest in this title and I am grateful that Heather Morris, Bonnier Books UK and CAA responded so well to our vision for the story.”

Morried added: “Lale Sokolov placed a great deal of trust in me when he first shared his story. I am now passing that baton on and am so pleased that Synchronicity Films was successful in negotiating for the rights. Claire and her colleagues have an obvious passion for my book and have demonstrated clear sensitivity to producing a real person’s story. I know Lale will be smiling down at this new phase of his and Gita’s story.”

Kate Parkin, managing director of adult trade at Bonnier Books UK, commented: “The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a deeply personal story, with universal themes of courage, love and survival. Synchronicity Films was committed to this book from our very first conversation; they had a clear strategy and fully embraced the responsibilities of bringing this story to the small screen. We are delighted that Claire and her team have been successful in securing the rights and we will follow the series’ development with great interest.”