The Great Gatsby screenwriter to adapt Joan of Arc story for TV
Australian script writer Craig Pearce will develop a new drama series for the UK’s FremantleMedia and Pukeko Pictures about the legend of Joan of Arc.
Pearce co-wrote original stories Moulin Rouge and Australia with writing partner Baz Luhrmann, and adapted both Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet and the forthcoming The Great Gatsby.
Adapted from New York bestseller The Maid, by Kimberly Cutter, the international production will be the first in the partnership between FremantleMedia and Pukeko Pictures, founded by Richard Taylor, head of Weta Workshop.
The story aims to go beyond the myth and tell the story of Joan as a girl, and her personal struggles to lead the French against the British in the final years of the Hundred Years War, by telling it not just from her perspective but also the noble houses that fought for control of the French throne.
Adam Fratto and Martin Baynton, executive producers on the project said: “Kimberly’s book pulls the veil of mythology aside and shows the real girl at the heart of this extraordinary story. We are thrilled that Craig – a master at making history accessible, visceral and entertaining – shares our passion for this story.”
It is understood the majority of the series will be shot in New Zealand.
Taylor said: “This project is the perfect fit for everything New Zealand has to offer. From our spectacular landscapes to the award-winning team here at Weta Workshop – an epic drama that can showcase everything from conceptual design through to manufacturing; utilising all the skills we have honed on our feature work.”
The series is as yet untitled.
