09/10/2006

While Perfume: The Story of a Murderer [+see also:
trailer
film profile] continues its trail of success – taking Germany (over 3.5m admissions in 20 days), Switzerland (200,000 admissions) and Austria (400,000) by storm, three countries where it has been number one at the box office for three weeks – Constantin Film Produktion is undertaking a new literary adaptation, the international bestseller Pope Joan by Donna Cross.

The film's director, who made a name for himself with the adaptation of Günter Grass’ The Tin Drum (which won him the 1979 Palme d'Or and Oscar for Best Foreign Film), is none other than Volker Schlöndorff.

Cross' novel, published ten years ago, is based on an ancient legend that began the day of Charlemagne’s death, the same day Joan – a remarkable young girl who is first pupil of a lord then the pope's doctor, before becoming pope herself – is born. This centuries-old highly controversial tale sold four million copies in Germany.

Franka Potente (Run, Lola, Run!) will play Joan in Schlöndorff's film, which Constantin is producing in collaboration with UFA Film & TV Produktion .

The feature will later be shown as a two-part series on television, at a still unknown date. Filming begins in May 2007.

(Translated from French)