Based on the international best-seller by New Zealand author Heather Morris, The Stan Original Series, The Tattooist of Auschwitz will premiere May 2.
The series, which will only be available on Stan in Australia, will star Harvey Keitel, Melanie Lynskey, Jonah Hauer-King, Anna Próchniak and Jonas Nay and is inspired by the real-life story of Lali and Gita Sokolov, who met while prisoners in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during the Holocaust.
Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov meets Anna Próchniak as Gita Furman for the first time.
The first look images see Harvey Keitel as the modern-day Lali Sokolov, Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov in his younger years, Anna Próchniak as Gita Furman, Melanie Lynskey as Heather Morris, and Jonas Nay as Stefan Baretzki.
Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov, seen here as he boards the train to Auschwitz.
The story follows Lali, a Slovakian Jew who shortly after arrival at Auschwitz-Birkenau, was made one of the tattooists, charged to ink identification numbers onto fellow prisoners’ arms. One day, he meets Gita when tattooing her prisoner number on her arm, and experiences love at first sight.
60 years later, Lali meets writer Heather Morris and finds the courage to tell the world his story, recounting the events he experienced and in the process, facing the traumatic ghosts of his youth.
Harvey Keitel as Lali Sokolov seen in his apartment in Melbourne.
Harvey Keitel as Lali Sokolov and Melanie Lynskey as Heather Morris walking through the streets of Melbourne.
The series is executive produced by Claire Mundell through her company Synchronicity Films in association with Sky Studios. It is directed by Tali Shalom-Ezer.
Claire Mundell said: “We knew from the beginning that we wanted Jonah to play Young Lali. Once Jonah was on board, the challenge was on to find the perfect Gita. Anna was the most wonderful discovery for us during the casting process. She stood out so clearly and it became increasingly clear that only Jonah and Anna could portray the humanity, the spirit, the resistance, and the defiance of Lali and Gita. They have both delivered career-defining performances in this series.”
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is produced by Synchronicity Films in association with Sky Studios, Stan Australia and All3Media International. Australian Jacquelin Perske is executive producer and lead writer for The Tattooist of Auschwitz alongside episode writers Evan Placey (associate producer) and Gabbie Asher. Serena Thompson is executive producer for Sky Studios. The Tattooist of Auschwitz will air on Sky Atlantic in the UK and Ireland and on Peacock in the US. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution and All3Media International will jointly handle international sales of the series.