Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim, Sons Of Anarchy) will return to television to lead Apple’s sweeping international drama series Shantaram which has been given a green light to go to series.
Based on Gregory David Roberts’ best-selling novel, Apple aquired the rights last year to develop for straight-to-series consideration. Robert’s sequel novel,The Mountain Shadow, is also included in the deal. Anonymous Content and Paramount Television will produce the Australia and India-set story.
Eric Warren Singer is adapting the script in which Lin (Hunnam), a man on the run from an Australian prison, sets out to get lost in the teeming Indian city of Bombay. Cut off from family and friends by distance and fate, he finds a new life in the slums, bars and underworld of India.
Justin Kurzel (Assassin’s Creed) is set to direct the first two episodes of the ten-episode series. Singer, Kurzel, Dave Erickson, Steve Golin, Nicole Clemens, Andrea Barron and Richard Sharkey executive produce.
The series is expected to start production in Australia and India in October with a $5 million tax incentive from the Australian government.