New Stan co-production The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Stan has partnered with Sky, Peacock, and All3Media International on a new drama series The Tattooist of Auschwitz, starring Harvey Keitel (The Irishman, Youth).

An adaptation of the novel by Heather Morris, the series sees Keitel as Lale Sokolov, who inked identification numbers onto prisoners’ arms before falling in love with fellow prisoner Gita (Anna Próchniak).

The adaptation will also star Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid, World on Fire), and Melanie Lynskey (The Last of Us, Yellowjackets) as New Zealander Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz novel and Jonas Nay (Deutschland 83, 86, 89) in the role of Stefan Baretzki.

Further cast joining the series include Tallulah Haddon (Kiss Me First, The Last Duel) as Hanna, Mili Eshet (Beyond the Mountains, Hills) as Ivana, Yali Topol Margalith in her first screen role as Cilka, Phénix Brossard (Little Joe, Benjamin) as Leon, Ilan Galkoff (Good Omens, Hilda) as Aaron, and Marcel Sabat (Tenet, The Windermere Children) as Tomas.

Harvey Keitel says: “The love story in this project, in the face of the horror, gives testimony to the spirit and the goodness of people.”

Claire Mundell will executive produce with Australian screenwriter Jacquelin Perske (Love My Way, Spirited).

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is inspired by the heart-breaking true-life story of Lale and Gita Sokolov. Lale (Jonah Hauer-King) 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. One day, he meets Gita (Anna Próchniak) 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 (Jonas Nay), Lale and Gita became determined to keep each other alive.

Around 60 years later, Lale (Harvey Keitel) meets novice writer Heather Morris (Melanie Lynskey). 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.