Peacock has revealed the premiere date for The Tattooist of Auschwitz, starring Harvey Keitel, Melanie Lynskey, and Jonah Hauer-King. Debuting on May 2, 2024, you can view the first photos from the drama series by scrolling down.
The six-episode series will be available on Peacock in the US and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an event series inspired by the real-life story of Jewish Holocaust survivors Lali and Gita Sokolov. Lali (Jonah Hauer-King) arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942, and shortly after arrival, he was made one of the tätowierer (tattooists), charged to ink identification numbers onto fellow prisoners’ arms.
One day, he meets Gita (Anna Próchniak) when tattooing her prisoner number on her arm. They experience love at first sight, and so begins a courageous, unforgettable, and human story.
Under constant guard from a volatile Nazi SS officer, Baretzki (Jonas Nay), Lali and Gita became determined to keep each other alive. Around 60 years later, Lali (Harvey Keitel) meets novice writer Heather Morris (Melanie Lynskey). Recently widowed, Lali finds the courage to tell the world his story.
In recounting his story to Heather, Lali, in his 80s, faces the traumatic ghosts of his youth and relives his memories of falling in love in the most horrific of places.
“To have Harvey join us is a dream come true. The commitment and authenticity with which Harvey approached the portrayal of Lali was breathtaking to watch,” said The Tattooist of Auschwitz executive producer Claire Mundell.
“It was important that both young and old Lali were played authentically by Jewish actors who were able to deliver the part with nuance, empathy, compassion, and the complexity that we need from that character.”
Claire explains: “To play Heather, we needed an actress with innate empathy, inquisitiveness, and openness, someone who could portray the mix of the incredible feat that the real Heather Morris took upon herself. Her role and relationship with Lali within the series are clear examples of how the screen adaptation differs from the book, as we’re framing the story from Lali’s real meetings with Heather in his Melbourne apartment.
“Lali unburdens to her what he can, but as he increasingly begins to trust Heather, he shares the full horrors of the trauma he still suffers as an elderly survivor. Being introduced by a mutual acquaintance, they met over coffee and then proceeded to spend the next three years developing a relationship. I’m not sure if either of them realized at the beginning, but clearly, what began is the telling of Lali’s and Gita’s beautiful love story.”
She added: “We began developing this story five years ago, and I was struck by how the book became a bestseller during a time when awareness of the Holocaust was in decline. Our series tells one man’s story and experience of Auschwitz and how he found love in the darkest of places. It is a story that is as important today as it ever was.
“We knew from the beginning that we wanted Jonah to play Young Lali. Once Jonah was on board, the challenge was on to find the perfect Gita. Anna was the most wonderful discovery for us during the casting process. She stood out so clearly, and it became increasingly clear that only Jonah and Anna could portray the humanity, the spirit, the resistance, and the defiance of Lali and Gita. They have both delivered career-defining performances in this series.”
Director and co-executive producer Tali Shalom-Ezer shared: “Claire and I talked about what a huge challenge it was going to be to make viewers believe in a love story that existed in this dark place and time. This was the task that I, as director, Claire, Jacquelin, and our team took upon ourselves, and I pray that we will be able to make viewers around the world believe in the wonderful love story of Lali and Gita.
“Because we’re recreating historical locations, as a first point of call, Claire and I went to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau alongside our amazing Heads of Department. I can remember discussing with David Katznelson, the cinematographer, and Nili Feller, my lead editor, what a huge challenge it would be to recreate this concentration camp on screen.”
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.