Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy, Triple Frontier, Pacific Rim) has been cast as the lead in Shantaram, Apple’s upcoming series adapted from the novel by Gregory David Roberts, Variety has confirmed.
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Shantaram tells the story of Lin (Hunnam), a man on the run from an Australian prison looking to get lost in the teeming city of Bombay. Cut off from family and friends by distance and fate, he finds a new life in the slums, bars, and the underworld of India. The novel is a thrilling and profound exploration of love, forgiveness, and courage on the long road to redemption.
Apple acquired the rights to the novel in June 2018. Roberts’ novel was published in 39 languages in 42 territories worldwide and has sold more than six million copies. Oscar and Golden Globe-nominee Eric Warren Singer (American Hustle) is writing the script. Shantaram is produced by Anonymous Content and Paramount Television.
Singer will also executive produce alongside Anonymous Content’s Steve Golin and Nicole Clemens along with Andrea Barron.
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Shantaram has been in development at Warner Bros. as a feature film since 2003. Johnny Depp was attached to the lead for several years, with Peter Weir (Master and Commander) attached to direct and Roberts penning the script alongside Eric Roth. Mira Nair (Vanity Fair) took over as director before the film was ultimately canceled in 2009. In 2013 Warners wanted to go ahead once again with Joel Edgerton in the lead and Garth Davis (Lion) directing from Roth’s script, but then nothing came of that.
