"Gulliver's Travels" TV Series Adaptation in Works

Oscar-nominated multi-hyphenate Uberto Pasolini – who produced “The Full Monty” and most recently directed “The Return,” starring Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus – has embarked on a TV series adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s classic satirical adventure “Gulliver’s Travels.”

Prominent British writer William Ivory is writing the screenplay for the six-episode project on which Pasolini will serve as showrunner. 

The high-end show, now in the early stages, is being produced by Italy’s Roberto Sessa and Germany’s Jan Wünschmann. It will be unveiled to prospective broadcasters during the Series Mania festival in Lille.

World sales will be jointly handled by Germany’s Beta Film and ZDF Studios.

“What Gulliver allows us to do today is to make something really, really fun,” Pasolini said in a statement. But at the same time – very much like Swift did in his time – to talk about the world around us; to talk about politics; to talk about greed; to talk about the place of the Western man in the world as a whole; to talk about the relationship between man and nature,” he said.

Pasolini developed Hallmark’s 1996 “Gulliver’s Travels” series that scored five Primetime Emmy wins.

Though specifics on casting are premature, Pasolini said they have been looking at a British actor for the main role. But, he added, the story is “telling you that you’re entering into different worlds, different cultures, different atmospheres, and those will be reflected in the casting,” he said.

Commenting on a recently announced Federation Studios “Gulliver’s Travels” TV series adaptation that is a contemporary reimagining penned by Emmy-winning writer Tom Bidwell titled “The Gullivers” Pasolini said he did not think it “makes sense” to bring “Gulliver’s Travels” “into our contemporary world.” “To me it feels like fear and not trusting that an audience will recognize themselves in someone who doesn’t dress, or move, in worlds that they recognize,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s a big risk in there being two [“Gulliver’s Travels”] projects on the market, especially since they are doing a contemporary adaptation,” said Jan Wünschmann, who heads Intaglio Films, which is a joint venture between Beta and ZDF Studios.

Wünschmann said the next step now is to find the broadcasting partners for this project, adding that “we’ve already started initial discussions with ZDF, which is our go-to partner.” They are eying an end of 2025 start of production date.

Roberto Sessa, who heads Fremantle-owned Picomedia – which has a close rapport with Beta – noted that they are looking to mount the show as a “potential European co-production,” but also “have our eyes set on the U.S.” in terms of prospective partners.

“When Uberto first pitched it to me, I thought: “This is going to be fun. Something for the whole family, that everyone can enjoy,” said Beta head of content and co-production Ferdinand Dohna, noting that “it’s subversive and kids love subversive stories.” Donha also pointed out that the “Gulliver’s Travels” book is still a global evergreen and that Pasolini’s expertise, given his involvement in the Hallmark show, is a definite plus.