The Hindu Business Line : Alchemy

Paulo Coelho’s best-selling novel The Alchemist is to be transformed for the big screen in a $60 million-plus adaptation for The Weinstein Company (TWC). The timing is perfect, as Paulo Coelho’s next book Brida is out and this time there is a lot of merchandise to be given away with the book including Paulo Coelho-autographed books, signed mugs and, what more, one can write to Coelho directly at paulocoelho@harpercollins-india.com

Coming back to the movie, actor Laurence Fishburne (of the The Matrix fame), already attached to the project, will direct and star as the title character, who guides the shepherd along his way. Shooting will start about a year from now.

Coelho said in a statement released by The Weinstein Co, “I am very happy that my book will be filmed in the way I intended it to be, and I hope the spirit and simplicity of my work will be preserved.”

Speaking by video message, Fishburne said the deal to adapt the Brazilian writer’s novel was “a dream come true” for him and “am looking forward to directing it, acting in it, and collaborating with Harvey Weinstein to produce a beautiful film that will do justice to Coelho’s enormously successful novel.”

The book tells the story of Santiago, a Spanish shepherd who dreams of finding a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. He embarks on his quest, falls in love and learns life lessons along the way. Usually an executive producer, Weinstein said he would take time out from running his company to personally produce The Alchemist.

He did the same with Shakespeare in Love, which won seven Academy Awards in 1999, including best picture. “The book is simple and spiritual and the screenplay will reflect that,” Weinstein said at the Cannes Film Festival. The Weinstein name has been attached to award-winning films including The English Patient, Good Will Hunting and Chicago. But since Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob left Miramax in 2005 to form The Weinstein Co, they have yet to match their past Academy Awards successes.

Info from HarperCollins