London – FremantleMedia International has announced the development of a six hour event mini-series based on the legendary story of Lawrence of Arabia. The epic drama will be produced by renowned director and producer Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Patriot, 2012 and the upcoming White House Down) along with Marc Frydman and Rod Lurie. It will be written by award-winning screenwriter Clive Bradley and Rod Lurie. Biographer Michael Korda will be the official historical consultant on the project. Michael Korda and the Korda family have for a long time been associated with excellence in filmmaking in the United Kingdom and worldwide.

The production will centre on the heroic journey of the British Army officer T.E. Lawrence who became famous as “Lawrence of Arabia” owing to his unique role with Arab leaders during World War I. His story was recreated in the 1962 film of the same name, widely considered as one of the most influential films in the history of cinema.

Announced in 2009, FremantleMedia International’s global drama strategy continues to gain momentum. The company recently announced that it will partner with renowned Hollywood writer Craig Pearce (Moulin Rouge) and Pukeko Pictures to develop The Maid, a story based on Joan of Arc; and with the award-winning Marshall Herskovitz (The Last Samurai) to develop a drama series inspired by the popular non-fiction book Hitlerland by Andrew Nagorski.  

David Ellender, CEO FremantleMedia International, said, “T.E. Lawrence was undoubtedly one of the greatest military and political strategists of our time and a stunningly intrepid Englishman who tried to unite the Arab world. The heritage of this story is fascinating – beyond the historical element, it’s a personal tale of emotional turmoil, identity crisis, conflicting loyalties and individual brilliance. The Middle East and Arab Spring as we know them today are linked to Lawrence’s actions, which make this epic incredibly topical. I am delighted that we are working with partners of such high calibre to bring this project to the screen.”