Oscar-nominated director Stephen Frears collaborates with Siddharth Roy Kapur for TV adaptation of William Dalrymple's 'The Anarchy'

ANI April 24, 2025 146 views

Oscar-nominated director Stephen Frears is set to helm a major TV adaptation of William Dalrymple's 'The Anarchy'. The series marks Roy Kapur Films' most ambitious international collaboration to date. Production will span locations in the UK and Asia, bringing the East India Company's rise to life. Siddharth Roy Kapur calls working with Frears "an absolute dream come true" for this global project.

"Stephen's range as a filmmaker is simply unmatched." - Siddharth Roy Kapur
Los Angeles, April 23: Legendary filmmaker Stephen Frears is all set to direct and executive produce the television adaptation of William Dalrymple's bestseller "The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company" for global indie studio Wiip and India's Roy Kapur Films.

Key Points

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Stephen Frears to direct ambitious East India Company series

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Roy Kapur Films' largest international co-production

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Adaptation of William Dalrymple's bestseller

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Shooting across UK and Asia

The show is being produced on a massive scale, making it the most ambitious international co-production by an Indian production house.

Adapted for the screen by Walon Green, Amit Bhalla, and Lucas Jansen, the writers behind Hello Tomorrow! (Apple TV+), The Anarchy will be shot across the UK and Asia, as per a press note.

Roy Kapur Films head Siddharth Roy Kapur said, "Stephen's range as a filmmaker is simply unmatched. He has directed some of the most beloved films of the last four decades, including some of my personal favourites, and to have him come on board to helm this project is an absolute dream come true. Collaborating with our production partners at wiip has been an incredibly enriching experience. This is a story that demanded scale, depth, and ambition, and I am proud that we have brought an extraordinary team together to bring it to life for a global audience."

Frears has received two Academy Award nominations for directing "The Grifters" (1991) and "The Queen" (2007). His credits include "Dangerous Liaisons," "High Fidelity," "Philomena," and the Emmy-nominated limited series "A Very English Scandal."

Reader Comments

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James R.
This sounds absolutely epic! Frears is a master storyteller and Dalrymple's book is so rich in detail. Can't wait to see how they bring this colonial era drama to life. The UK-Asia shooting locations will add so much authenticity. 🤩
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Priya K.
As someone who loved the book, I'm cautiously optimistic. The East India Company's history is so complex - hope they don't oversimplify it for TV. But with Frears directing, it should have nuance.
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Michael T.
The Queen and High Fidelity were brilliant - Frears knows how to handle both historical drama and character-driven stories. Perfect choice for this adaptation!
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Ananya S.
Excited for this but hope they cast Indian actors in Indian roles. Too often these international co-productions whitewash our history. The scale sounds impressive though!
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David L.
Respectful criticism: While I admire Frears' work, I'm concerned about Western directors telling Eastern stories. Hope they have strong Indian voices in the writers' room too.
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Sarah M.
The book was a masterpiece! If they can capture even half of Dalrymple's vivid storytelling, this will be must-watch TV. Fingers crossed they do justice to this important chapter of history.

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Tags:
Stephen Frears Siddharth Roy Kapur The Anarchy William Dalrymple East India Company TV adaptation
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