‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ update: TV series has finished filming!
We’ve got some news on the upcoming The Tattooist of Auschwitz television adaptation.
Based on the bestselling Holocaust novel of the same name by New Zealand author Heather Morris, the highly anticipated mini-series began production earlier this year.
It’s now been confirmed by Sky that the show “completed filming in Europe this summer.”
With the writers’ and actors’ strikes ongoing in the US, it’s a relief to hear that the shoot has already wrapped.
When’s the release date?
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is set to premiere in 2024 on Sky Atlantic and streaming service Now in the UK, Ireland, Italy and Germany.
In the US, it’ll be streaming exclusively on Peacock.
Stan has the Australian rights for the series, and Viaplay has the rights in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Poland.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is inspired by the heart-breaking true-life story of Lale and Gita Sokolov.
“Lale arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942, and shortly after arrival, he was made one of the tätowierer (tattooists), charged to ink identification numbers onto fellow prisoners’ arms,” the official synopsis reveals.
“One day, he meets Gita when tattooing her prisoner number on her arm. They experience love at first sight, and so begins a courageous, unforgettable, and human story.
“Under constant guard from a volatile SS officer Baretzki, Lale and Gita became determined to keep each other alive.
“Around 60 years later, Lale meets novice writer Heather Morris. Recently widowed, Lale finds the courage to tell the world his story.
“In recounting his story to Heather, Lale, in his 80s, faces the traumatic ghosts of his youth and relives his memories of falling in love in the most horrific of places.”
Further casting has now been confirmed for the series.
Playing the role of Lale Sokolov in modern-day scenes is will be American actor Harvey Keitel (The Piano, Pulp Fiction).
“The love story in this project, in the face of the horror, gives testimony to the spirit and the goodness of people,” commented the Oscar-nominated film star.
Also confirmed as part of the cast are Tallulah Haddon (The Last Duel) as Hanna, Mili Eshet (Beyond the Mountains) as Ivana, Phénix Brossard (Benjamin) as Leon, Ilan Galkoff (Good Omens) as Aaron, Marcel Sabat (The Windermere Children) as Tomas, and newcomer Yali Topol Margalith as Cilka.
They join the already-announced lead actors Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid) and Anna Próchniak (Baptiste) as the young Lale Sokolov and Gita Furman.
Melanie Lynskey (The Last of Us) is playing Heather Morris, with Jonas Nay (Deutschland 83) as Stefan Baretzki.
Jonah Hauer-King recently returned to our screens as Harry in the long-awaited second season of World on Fire.
The English actor previously called it “a huge privilege to be telling Lale’s incredible story” to appear in The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
“I have the utmost respect and admiration for his ability to find humanity and kindness in the most inhumane of places,” he said.
“These scripts heartbreakingly and vividly depict this appalling time in our history, and I feel proud to be honouring Lale and Gita’s remarkable journey.”
It’s also been revealed that Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, Inception) and Kara Talve (Prehistoric Planet) will be composing the music for the series.
“Within the depths of Auschwitz, here is a story of hope and love, that transcends boundaries and resonates with the very essence of our humanity,” Zimmer commented last week.
Heather Morris’s novel was published in 2018 and has sold over 12 million copies around the world!
The Tattooist of Auschwitz book is available on Amazon.