Acclaimed director Stephen Frears, the cinematic force behind hits like ‘The Queen’ and ‘Dangerous Liaisons’, is set to helm a gripping new series based on William Dalrymple’s best-selling historical epic, ‘The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company’.
This ambitious project, a collaboration between global indie studio wiip and India’s Roy Kapur Films, promises to unravel the shocking story of how a seemingly small London trading firm ruthlessly seized control of the vast Indian subcontinent. Prepare for a tale of unprecedented corporate power and its devastating consequences.
Stephen Frears, a celebrated filmmaker with two Academy Award nominations to his name, will direct and executive produce this international co-production.
Known for his nuanced storytelling and ability to bring complex historical narratives to life, Frears’ involvement elevates the project’s prestige and signals a commitment to a high-quality adaptation. His impressive filmography, including ‘High Fidelity’, ‘Philomena’, and ‘Victoria & Abdul’, showcases his versatility in handling diverse genres and historical periods.
William Dalrymple’s meticulously researched and critically lauded 2019 book, ‘The Anarchy’, lays bare the astonishing and often brutal ascent of the East India Company in the latter half of the 18th century. Against the backdrop of a crumbling Mughal Empire and the rise of regional powers, the book chronicles how a private enterprise, initially focused on trade, transformed into a formidable military and political force. By the early 19th century, its private army of around 200,000 men had effectively subdued an entire subcontinent, wielding power over a landmass that then constituted over a quarter of the world’s GDP.
Frears himself has described the story as strikingly contemporary, highlighting its themes of “a ruthless businessman and his corporation seizing power, a group of oligarchs taking over a chunk of the world, asset-stripping, looting, manipulating the stock market, destroying whole economies for their profit.”
The series adaptation will reunite the writing team behind Apple TV+’s ‘Hello Tomorrow!’ – Walon Green, Amit Bhalla, and Lucas Jansen – promising a compelling and nuanced screenplay. Dalrymple will serve as a creative consultant, ensuring the historical accuracy and spirit of his book are maintained. The series is slated to be filmed across the UK and Asia, aiming for an authentic and visually stunning portrayal of the historical setting.
Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur expressed his excitement about Frears’ involvement, calling it an “absolute dream come true” and praising the director’s unmatched range. He emphasized the story’s scale, depth, and ambition, highlighting the collaborative and enriching experience of working with wiip.
The narrative of ‘The Anarchy’ resonates powerfully with contemporary concerns about the influence of mega-corporations and the potential for unchecked economic power to reshape global landscapes. As Naz Haider of Xpat Productions aptly stated, “The significance of this story cannot be overstated in today’s world, where mega-conglomerates often enjoy more privileges and protection than ordinary citizens.”
The series has the potential to serve as a historical parallel to modern issues, offering a thought-provoking exploration of corporate greed and its far-reaching consequences. Some involved in the project are even envisioning it as “India’s answer to ‘The Crown’,” a grand-scale historical origin story with global appeal.
Summary:
- Stephen Frears will direct a series based on William Dalrymple’s ‘The Anarchy’, chronicling the East India Company’s rise to power in India.
- The series is a co-production between wiip and Roy Kapur Films, with Dalrymple serving as creative consultant.
- The writing team from ‘Hello Tomorrow!’ will adapt Dalrymple’s historical epic for the screen.
- The story highlights themes of corporate greed and the acquisition of immense power, drawing parallels to contemporary issues.
- Filming will take place across the UK and Asia.