Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is being adapted into a feature film written by Enola Holmes scribe Jack Thorne.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Legendary Entertainment has secured the film and television rights to The Alchemist, a novel that was first published in 1988. Working with Tristar Pictures, Legendary Entertainment has now tapped Thorne to write a screenplay adapting the novel into a feature film.
Thorne wrote the screenplay for 2020’s Enola Holmes starring Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill, along with its 2022 sequel, Enola Holmes 2. He’s written a number of other films throughout his career, including 2017’s Wonder, 2019’s The Aeronauts, and 2020’s The Secret Garden. Additionally, Thorne was the showrunner for HBO Max’s His Dark Materials, while he also wrote the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage play.
What Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist about?
Originally written in Portuguese, The Alchemist introduces readers to a young shepherd from Andalusia named Santiago. After having reoccurring dreams of finding treasure hidden within the pyramids of Egypt, Santiago leaves home and embarks on a journey to uncover these lost riches, all while he learns a bit more about life and himself along the way.
Laurence Fishburne was previously attached to direct a version of The Alchemist that was being written by Scott McGehee and Dave Siegel. Idris Elba was seemingly attached to star in the film; although, things took a rocky turn when PalmStar Media purchased the rights to The Alchemist in 2016. Fishburne still stuck around for a while but ultimately left the project in 2021.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith announced in July 2021 that they were working with Netter Films to adapt The Alchemist into a feature film; however, this project also fell apart.
A director or potential release date for Legendary Entertainment and Tristar Pictures’ The Alchemist has not yet been announced.
