News

   
14. January 2013

ZDF Enterprises, Beta Film und Gruppe 5 to produce opulent event series "Alexander"

Mainz/Munich/Cologne, 14 Jan 2013. The Macedonian commander Alexander the Great, one of the mightiest rulers in history, holds center stage in the opulent event series Alexander, which is being produced jointly by ZDF Enterprises, Beta Film and Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion. The author of the large-scale production, which is to be shot in English and will comprise eight to twelve one-hour episodes, is U.K. native Michael Hirst, who was responsible for, among others, “The Tudors,” “Elizabeth” and “Camelot” and numbers among the leading international showrunners.
Alexander is the first joint coproduction of  ZDF Enterprises, Beta Film and Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion, headquartered in Cologne. The idea was spawned by Uwe Kersken, managing partner of Gruppe 5, who is currently working closely with Michael Hirst on the concept and the first scripts. Pre-production and scripting of the event series, which is scheduled to have a three-season run, will take place in 2013 and production is expected to begin in 2014.
Alexander the Great is one of the most dazzling and controversial rulers, and one of the greatest commanders in world history. Up to his death at the age of 33 – which was also premature in his day – he expanded his father’s realm from Macedonia to Egypt and India. To this day he is considered as one of the greatest warfare strategists ever. His life was stamped by everything that characterizes a great event drama: the hunger for power, intrigues, lust and excess.
Author and showrunner Michael Hirst says: "Not many rulers are ever called ‘Great.’ Alexander of Macedonia was the first, and is still probably the greatest. By the age of 33 he had explored and conquered most of the known world, and was already widely acknowledged to be a god. But for me, the fascination of this series lies in the character of the man himself. Taught by Aristotle, descended from Hercules, Alexander remained full of doubts, as well as questions about the nature and purpose of life. From ancient history he reaches out to talk to those who still dream of shattering the boundaries and limits of human experience."
Uwe Kersken on the project: “When I began thinking about a drama series on Alexander the Great, three things became important to me: the dramaturgy would have to make it clear that Alexander was not only a great conqueror and tyrant, but was also characterized by an enormous thirst for knowledge and was open to the foreign languages and cultures in all the lands he conquered. Secondly, I had to find a world-class author and showrunner – and I am delighted that Michael Hirst, who shares the passion for this project with me, has agreed to join us. Thirdly, we would need strong partners who have my full trust clear across the board, and who are used to moving in international circles.”
Beta Film managing director Eric Welbers: "In Alexander we unite outstanding European creative talent with many years of experience in European production and distribution. I am convinced that this interplay will pave the way for the program’s national and international success, with regard to its contents and its commercial value".
Alexander Coridass, President and CEO at ZDF Enterprises, asserts: “There is no doubt that the united expertise of three internationally renowned partners – Gruppe 5, Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises – along with the exceptionally talented Michael Hirst, will lead to the international success of Alexander. I am proud of the great creative potential of our associate company Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion, which initiated this project.”