Laurence Fishburne set to direct Idris Elba in "The Alchemist"

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The Weinstein Company is in talks with Laurence Fishburne to direct and Idris Elba to star, respectively, in their long-gestating adaptation of Paulo Coelho’s bestselling novel The Alchemist. 


Who hasn't read Paolo Coelho's novel The Alchemist? Not many, I think, the book was a hit among people of various interests and social walks of life. Now, Oscar-nominated actor Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, Man of Steel) will direct its adaptation for The Weinstein Company, with actor Idris Elba (Pacific Rim, Luther) as the lead.

Coelho’s novel has sold over 65 million copies worldwide in 56 different languages, holding the Guinness world record for being the most translated work by a living author. The Alchemist has been a passion project for Fishburne, who purchased the rights along with A-Mark Entertainment from Warner Bros. in 2007 and in 2008 struck a seven-figure deal with Harvey Weinstein and TWC to produce and distribute. The news was announced by Weinstein in 2008, at the Cannes Film Festival.

The big-screen take on Coelho’s novel has been in development hell since 1994 when the author originally sold the rights to Warner Bros for $250,000. The project languished before Fishburne picked up the rights at a later date. Deadline claims one of the biggest problems has revolved around how much action should be included in the film, which has affected budget projections.

This is Fishburne’s second directorial project after the crime drama Once in the Life (2000). He currently plays Earl “Pops” Johnson on the ABC sitcom Black-ish and Agent Jack Crawford on NBC’s Hannibal.

The Brazilian author first sold rights in 1994 to Warner Bros for $250,000. As the project languished, Coelho unsuccessfully tried to buy back the rights, at one point event having a $2 million offer rebuffed. Fishburne eventually acquired the feature rights with indie banner A-Mark Entertainment from Warner Bros. 

 It was believed, but not confirmed, that TWC had acquired film rights from Fishburne and A-Mark for just under $3 million in a deal brokered by Fishburne's agent, Paradigm.

 Coelho’s book is something of a publishing sensation, having sold more than 65 million copies in 56 different languages. It reputedly holds the Guinness world record for most translated work by a living author. 

The story centers on a young Spaniard who embarks on a quest to find a hidden treasure within the Egyptian pyramids.
Alchemist
“I am very happy that my book will be filmed in the way I intended it to be and I hope the spirit and simplicity of my work will be preserved. I am excited my friend Laurence Fishburne and Harvey Weinstein will be working together,” said Coelho.

One of the issues behind the lengthy development of the project has always been just how much action should be included in the adaptation of Coelho’s largely spiritual, if epic, tale. Budgets on the project have varied over the years from $60 million to $100 million. The project’s story and setting would seemingly be a natural fit for a Middle Eastern-based investor. 

Fishburne held talks with members of Abu Dhabi’s royal family as well as the Japanese conglom the Kadokawa Group. At the time of the Cannes announcement, Weinstein also appeared to be courting money from the region. “The film will be a bridge to the Middle East. The book has been an overwhelming success there. It’s a part of the world we need to know more about and extend bridges to it.”

Certainly the filmmaking infrastructure today is infinitely superior to what it was back in 2008. Tom Cruise shot parts of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol in Dubai while Abu Dhabi execs scored two major coups by attracting both Furious 7 and Star Wars: The Force Awakens to shoot in the desert-set metropolis, aided in part by the 30% cash rebate on production spend.

Elba is keeping himself busy in front of and behind the camera. The actor-singer-producer has Justin Lin’s Star Trek 3 in the pipelines. Mandela, My Dad & Me, a one-hour docu produced by Elba and his production banner Green Door Pictures, was recently acquired by A+E Networks. The film, directed by Daniel Vernon, chronicles the story behind the creation of Mi Mandela, an album of South African music recorded by Elba in tribute to Mandela and to his own late father.

Elba will next be seen in Cary Fukunaga’s child soldier drama Beasts of No Nation, which will debut via Netflix.
The actor-singer was inspired after having spent months working on Mandela biopic Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.  The documentary will air on History in Africa in 2015.

Elba is repped by The Artists Partnership and WME.

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