For immediate release

ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING WRITER/DIRECTOR ROBERT TOWNE TO PEN POMPEII, HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED NEW MINISERIES

Four-Hour Miniseries Sold to ProSiebenSat.1 TV Germany and Sky in the UK

Sony Pictures Television, Tandem Communications, Peace Out Productions, Dolphin Entertainment, Leder Productions and Scott Free Television Partner on Pompeii

MUNICH, GERMANY and CANNES, FRANCE (April 4th, 2011)— Robert Towne, multiple nominee and winner of the Academy Award® for his screenplay of Chinatown, will write the script for the upcoming miniseries Pompeii, it was announced today at MIPTV. Additionally, the project has been sold to ProSiebenSat.1 TV Germany and SKY in the UK.

"I am thrilled that Robert will bring his trademark vision to this remarkable project.  In portraying an historical world on the brink of destruction, he will no doubt capture and engage audiences globally. His adaptation will truly make for an astonishing television event," said Executive Producer Ridley Scott.

"All of us I think, have fantasies about living in the past and Pompeii uniquely allows you to indulge that fantasy," said Towne. "The Harris book tells a compelling story with contemporary relevance. If you want an idea of what it was like to live life back then, Pompeii is it."

International bestselling and award-winning author Robert Harris (Fatherland, The Ghost) has created a suspenseful blazing thriller about one of the great natural disasters in human history. When the mighty Aqua Augusta, the aqueduct-lifeline of the ancient cities of the Bay of Naples, suddenly starts to go dry, the newly assigned aqueduct engineer Marcus Attilius finds himself racing against time to keep the military and trade ports on the Bay alive. The young engineer doesn’t realize that he’s also in a race he can’t win against one of the deadliest forces of nature – the inconceivable power building under the quiet slopes of Mount Vesuvius.

Against the background of the final seventy-two hours before the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius, and driven by a desperate search for answers, Attilius struggles – along with Corelia, his new young love – to survive the catastrophic experience which for generations to come will be summed up by one word: Pompeii.

Called “A supremely good piece of storytelling…” by The Guardian, Harris’ book has been translated into more than 30 languages.

Acclaimed screenwriter Robert Towne has authored many notable film scripts such as The Firm, and Oscar-nominated screenplays The Last Detail and Shampoo as well as the first two Mission: Impossible films.  Other writer-director credits include Ask the Dust (2006), Without Limits (1998), Tequila Sunrise (1988) and Personal Best (1982), in which he was also a producer. 

Sony Pictures Television, Tandem Communications, Peace Out Productions, Dolphin Entertainment, Leder Productions and Scott Free Television are partnering on Pompeii, a new four-hour event miniseries based on “Pompeii”, the bestselling book by Robert Harris. Rola Bauer, Jonas Bauer, Tim Halkin, Jimmy Miller, Bill O’Dowd, Ridley Scott, Judith Verno and David W. Zucker serve as Executive Producers.

For further information, please contact:

Sophie Müller
Tandem Communications
Email: sophie.mueller(at)tandemcom.de
Phone: +49 (89) 96 22 83 14
Fax: +49 (89) 96 22 83 11
http://www.tandemcom.de/