The Forgotten Soldier Movie is now Official!

[Doug Nash]

Hot off the presses from www.ScreenDaily.com ---

Verhoeven attached to direct The Forgotten Soldier

Mike Goodridge in Los Angeles

21 July 2008 06:00

Paul Verhoeven, whose last film Black Book was one of his most acclaimed in years, has become attached to another World War II story The Forgotten Soldier based on the memoir by Guy Sajer.

The story follows Sajer’s harrowing experiences as a teenager as a French recruit in the German Army on the eastern front during the war.

Michael Frost Beckner, who writing credits include Spy Game, has written the screenplay for the project and will produce alongside his brother John Beckner and Verhoeven. The producers plan to shoot in 2009 on location in Eastern Europe.

Financing and worldwide distribution is being arranged by LA-based executive producer Thomas Augsberger and Eden Rock Media.

The novel is a French classic and was recently cited as one of prime minister Nicholas Sarkozy’s favorite books. Sajer, who is still alive, has never optioned the rights to the book despite strong interest, but is said to have been won over by Verhoeven.

Michael Frost Beckner is represented by Endeavor, Manager Marion Rosenberg represents Verhoeven.

[Anthony N]

Fantastic book, i really hope they can do it justice.
I assume we've got a long long wait for it to be finished.
Didn't realise Guy Sajer was still alive.

[David C]

Well he did a cracking job with Black Book so here's hoping.

[milcollector]

oh well, at least that is conclusive proof that the story is geuine.
Been a lot of debate over the years about it's authenticity.

[Doug Nash]

The Forgotten Soldier Movie

Well, Sajer is genuine - and his book is (mostly) genuine - but as many veterans do, I think he embellished it in some places because he most likely forgot exactly how events happened or, as is more the case, events ran together in his mind so that their chronology got switched around, as well as locations, names etc. That's a pretty common phenomenon with long-serving combat veterans, 10 or 20 years after the fact. When I was a kid, I used to hang around Veteran of Foreign War (VFW) beer halls with my dad and many of those veterans insisted on the truthfulness of their stories, but many times these stories wouldn't hold up to close examination. But if you ask them, these same veterans will insist that what they've told you is the absolute truth, and they sincerely believe what they say. I think the case is the same with Sajer. He gets a lot of the little details wrong, but the underlying details of his story are true. I think that the movie would be a real block-buster, if done properly, because so many people have read the book around the world.
Cheers,
Doug Nash

[milcollector]

sure, if done properly it will be one of the classic war movies of all time.
By done properly, I mean like Das Boot, or Cross of Iron.
But most likely it will be weak, like "Stalingrad-1993" or "Enemy at the Gates-2001" and we will all feel let down.

God knows, I want to be proven wrong on this one !!

One final observation. Personally I am surprised this movie is to be made.
The way I see it, the world has become even more Politically Correct over the last decade or so. I am surprised a studio is prepared to throw big money at a movie all about the life of a soldier serving in the Third Reich's premiere army unit.
Back when Das Boot, or Cross of Iron was made, the world was not as PC sensitive as it is now.

[VonLuck]

I just hope Tom Cruise's expensive mess doesn't give producers and directors cold feet about this type of movies...

[Andy Harris]

Excellent news!!!!
I just hope they do the book justice.

[Justin P]

Lets hope they Do the Man and the Vets justice!

[Simon O.]

Lets hope it's done in French\German and not English. I sincerely hope it doesn't end up like cross of iron and definitely not like the film version of Wheels of terror.

[Jonathan M]

Lets hope its done well and its not a Pearl Harbour!

[Shawn Hall]

Let's hope they go through with it. I am really excited about this news and I hope to be able to see it. I read the book and really enjoyed it. I too hope that it is filmed in German. More authentic and heck I don't mind the subtitles.

-Shawn

[Degens]

I watched " black book " tonight after reading about it here. What a great film and I was totally suprised that I had not heard about it before. I hope the next one is half as good.....

[DennyB]

I would be an extra in that movie at no charge, I would even provide my own uniform and equipment. Let me know if they are looking for a pot-bellied, bald-headed 55 year old American to portray an 20 year old German soldier that has been living on army food for 3 or 4 years.
Denny

[Andy Harris]

Lets hope its done well and its not a Pearl Harbour!

Ain't that the truth!!!!