Jonathan Swift’s satirical masterpiece, Gulliver’s Travels, is set to make its way to the small screen in a new television adaptation. The project, helmed by Oscar-nominated director and producer Uberto Pasolini, marks a fresh take on the classic tale, promising a more direct engagement with Swift’s biting satire.
Pasolini, known for his work on The Full Monty, a film he conceived and which earned significant acclaim, is set to serve as showrunner for the six-episode series. British screenwriter William Ivory, famed for his work on We Want Sex and The Great Escaper, will pen the episodes. The series is being touted as a “high-end show,” with producers hailing from across Europe, including Roberto Sessa from Italy’s The Sea Beyond and Jan Wünschmann from Germany’s The Swarm and Concordia.
Though the series does not yet have any confirmed network or streaming partners, it is expected to be showcased to broadcasters at an upcoming festival. Pasolini expressed his excitement for the project, emphasizing the desire to “have fun and push limits,” echoing the subversive nature that Swift’s original work is celebrated for.
But Gulliver’s Travels will face stiff competition. Federation Studios is also working on its own television adaptation, titled The Gullivers, written by Emmy-winning screenwriter Tom Bidwell, known for his work on My Mad Fat Diary and The Irregulars. This version is said to be a more contemporary reimagining of the story, potentially following in the footsteps of the 2010 film starring Jack Black.
Additionally, fans may remember the 1996 Hallmark miniseries, which starred Ted Danson and earned five Primetime Emmy Awards. Interestingly, Pasolini was also involved in that production, reflecting his long-standing connection to the Gulliver’s Travels saga. Pasolini’s collaborator Ferdinand Dohna remarked, “When Uberto first pitched it to me, I thought: ‘This is going to be fun. Something for the whole family, that everyone can enjoy,'” adding that “it’s subversive, and kids love subversive stories.”
With two distinct television adaptations on the horizon, it remains to be seen which version will reach audiences first.
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