‘Downfall’ Director, ‘Constellation’ Creator to Adapt Sci-Fi Drama ‘The Inquest of Pilot Pirx’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Oliver Hirschbiegel, renowned for his Oscar-nominated “Downfall” and European Film Award nominee “The Experiment,” and Peter Harness, a key figure behind Apple TV’s “Constellation,” are now attached to the movie adaptation of Stanislaw Lem’s science fiction novel “The Inquest of Pilot Pirx.

They are brought onto the project along with science fiction novelist Adrian Tchaikovsky, as they have been selected by producers Nafta Films and Film and Music Entertainment to rewrite and modernize Lem’s original tale.

The movie, spoken in English, narrates the tale of Commander Pirx and his compact team consisting of both humans and androids, embarking on a space voyage. It’s a dual Turing test scenario as they question their own artificial nature alongside determining the authenticity of their crewmates. Matters take a perilous turn when an unidentified saboteur disturbs their mission.

Director Oliver Hirschbiegel is known for movies like “Downfall,” a critically praised and financially successful film that was nominated for Best Foreign-Language Film at the 2005 Academy Awards and the European Film Award for Best Film in 2001 as “Das Experiment.” His other works include “13 Minutes” and “Five Minutes in Heaven,” both starring Liam Neeson, which earned him the title of Best Director at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. He also directed several episodes for the series “Constellation.

Beyond the film “Constellation,” where I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks, my resume boasts an impressive list of accomplishments. For instance, I wrote and served as executive producer for the series “Wallander” (2012-2015), which starred Kenneth Branagh. Additionally, I contributed to the 2019 adaptation of “The War of the Worlds.” My debut feature film was “Is Anybody There?,” featuring the legendary Michael Caine. In the pipeline, I’m excited to share “The People vs. Gary McKinnon,” a BBC feature drama produced by my production company Haunted Barn.

Esko Rips and Sam Taylor stated that Hirschbiegel and Harness craft “dramas that are both captivating and thought-provoking, with characters that feel real.” They further mentioned: “By combining the themes of AI confronting humans, trust issues and betrayal within a confined atmosphere, and involving visionaries such as Adrian Tchaikovsky and Stanislaw Lem, they’re venturing into uncharted territories.

For a long time, I’ve held Stanislaw Lem in high regard due to his incredible intellect, and I’m overjoyed to be working alongside the talented Peter Harness again on the script,” Hirschbiegel expressed.

I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with Oliver for the past couple of years, and I’m excited to begin an adventure into a strange and magical world alongside him. It’s an honor to contribute to the retelling of a renowned story by Lem, and I can hardly wait to dive in!” This version aims to maintain the original’s tone while making it more accessible and engaging for readers.

Hirschbiegel is managed by Charles Collier, located at Chalcot Square, as well as Jason Burns at Universal Talent Agency (UTA). On the other hand, Harness is handled by Lily Williams at Curtis Brown, and Ted Miller at Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

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2025-02-13 09:17