Picomedia and Intaglio Films have tapped Oscar®- nominee and multi-awarded Uberto Pasolini as showrunner for the TV adaptation of the iconic classic "Gulliver’s Travels" by Jonathan Swift. To be shot in English, the six-hours fantasy series is set in the extraordinary world created by Jonathan Swift and follows the astonishing adventures of Lemuel Gulliver. His inexhaustible desire for self-improvement, knowledge, and social advancement drives him to leave his family to embark on a year-long quest. Throughout his turbulent journey, he finds himself in unknown, fascinating, and often dangerous situations, traveling across different fantastical and unknown places. Yet the question remains: What exactly is it that he’s searching for?
Uberto Pasolini, Showrunner: “Having developed the Primetime Emmy® Award winning Hallmark series "Gulliver’s Travels" together with Duncan Kenworthy of The Henson Company, I’m ready to re-enter Swift’s fascinating world. With this adaptation of Gulliver’s Travels, we want to create a wonderful and fun TV adventure, and, at the same time, talk about the world around us: politics, greed, consumerism, the relationship between humans and nature. Swift explored these themes and more in his original work, and we want to re-explore them while keeping the amazing, wonderful, and unusual visual setting of the 18th century. Swift’s incredible imagination makes it feel natural to me to stick to his world; the entire story is about journeying beyond familiar places, far from Gulliver’s usual reality. We want to go crazy in the same way that Gulliver goes crazy on his journey, and how Swift went crazy with him. It will be interesting, fascinating, entertaining, and unusual – nothing will be predictable.”
Roberto Sessa, Producer and CEO Picomedia: “I’m very happy to bring together Uberto Pasolini’s talent and the global expertise of Beta Film and Intaglio Films. This project has strong potential for European broadcasting partners, as well as partners across the Atlantic, given the IP that is known worldwide. I am looking forward to exciting months ahead.”
Jan Wünschmann, Producer and co-MD Intaglio Films, joint venture Beta Film/ZDF Studios: “Intaglio Films is always on the lookout for outstanding European projects with great international potential – and "Gulliver’s Travels" is exactly such a project. This great IP offers top-tier family entertainment with global appeal. With Uberto Pasolini and Roberto Sessa we have excellent partners who share our vision. I’m very much looking forward to the next step of finding the perfect match of broadcasting partners to bring this unique adaption of Swift’s original classic to life.”
Ferdinand Dohna, Head of Content & Co-production Beta Film: “The German translation of "Gulliver’s Travels" is prefaced with a quote by Hermann Hesse, that I think still holds true: ‘Everybody knows the novel, but nobody knows the original.’ That is exactly what we want to change. Swift’s original "Gulliver’s Travels" is a subversive, universal period fantasy that speaks to young and old, it knows no generations. It is a perfect template for an entertaining international co-production. With Uberto Pasolini and Roberto Sessa, we have a long-lasting, very trustful collaboration that we are very proud of, on a personal and professional level. And with Intaglio Films on board, I’m confident that both industry and audiences can look forward to a beautiful, unique, and entertaining high-end adaptation of Gulliver’s Travels.”
Uberto Pasolini serves as showrunner. He previously developed Hallmark’s "Gulliver’s Travels" series together with Duncan Kenworthy (The Henson Company), which was honored with five Primetime Emmy® Awards. His latest feature film "The Return," starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, premiered at TIFF last year; further works include the feature film "Nowhere Special," starring BAFTA nominee James Norton, and "Still Life," starring multi-awarded actors Eddie Marsan and Joanne Froggatt; both films premiered at Venice Film Festival.
The three-time BAFTA nominated writer William Ivory ("Made in Dagenham," "Burton & Taylor") is responsible for the scripts. His latest feature film "The Great Escaper", directed by Oliver Parker, stars Oscar®-winners Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson.
The fantasy period drama will be produced by Picomedia (Roberto Sessa), Intaglio Films (Jan Wünschmann, Robert Franke) in co-production with Beta Film (Ferdinand Dohna). World sales will be handled by Beta Film and ZDF Studios (joint distribution). Producer and CEO of Picomedia Roberto Sessa’s credits include, among others, the Italian hit series "The Sea Beyond," and the TV adaption of Elsa Morante’s "La Storia," based on Elsa Morante’s bestselling novel that is one of the most iconic and critically acclaimed of the 20th century.
Jan Wünschmann, producer and co-MD of Intaglio Films together with Robert Franke, a joint venture by ZDF Studios and Beta Film, was responsible for "The Swarm and Concordia," created by executive producer Frank Doelger ("Game of Thrones"). The thriller series "The Swarm" is one of the biggest European TV productions to date and was sold by Beta Film/ZDF Studios to the major US network THE CW, where it premiered to great acclaim.
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