Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov, seen here as he boards the train to Auschwitz (Credit: © Martin Mlaka / Sky UK)

By
2 years ago
The series will premiere in May
If you were a fan of Heather Morris’ bestselling novel, The Tattooist Of Auschwitz, you’ll likely be awaiting news of the highly-anticipated TV adaptation – and first-look images have just dropped. Featuring a score by Hans Zimmer and Kara Talve, the show is set to be a hit.
The Tattooist Of Auschwitz centres on Lale Sokolov (altered to Lali in the TV series), a Slovakian Jew sent to Auschwitz in 1942. Tasked with tattooing identification numbers onto the arms of new prisoners, Lale meets and instantly falls in love with Gita, a fellow inmate. Under the brutal watch of Nazi guards at the camp, the pair fight to keep each other – and their relationship – alive.
Based on Heather Morris’ novel of the same name, the TV series adds another dimension to this tale by transporting viewers to the post-war period, when Lale meets Heather and recounts his past. It’s during his conversations with Heather that Lale – now in his 80s – relives his memories of Auschwitz and his love story with Gita.
The Tattooist Of Auschwitz is indeed based on a true story, and Lale was a real man who sadly passed away in 2006. A mutual friend of author Heather and Lale’s son proposed the idea to Heather, who thought it would make for a good screenplay. Heather met with Lale frequently over the last three years of his life, during which he recounted his story about his time with Gita in Auschwitz, delving into the trauma, pain and survivor guilt he experienced. While the novel tells Lale’s story, the TV series flashes forward to these true conversations between Lale and Heather as a framing narrative.

Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov meets Anna Próchniak as Gita Furman for the first time (Credit: © Martin Mlaka / Sky UK)
Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov, seen here as he boards the train to Auschwitz (Credit: © Martin Mlaka / Sky UK)

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Harvey Keitel as Lali Sokolov seen in his apartment in Melbourne (Credit: © Martin Mlaka / Sky UK)

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Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov seen here walking through Auschwitz with German-born actor Jonas Nay as Nazi officer Stefan Baretzki, front right (Credit: © Martin Mlaka / Sky UK)

Harvey Keitel as Lali Sokolov and Melanie Lynskey as Heather Morris walking through the streets of Melbourne (Credit: © Martin Mlaka / Sky UK)

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Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov meets Anna Próchniak as Gita Furman for the first time (Credit: © Martin Mlaka / Sky UK)

The Tattooist of Auschwitz will air on Thursday 2 May 2024.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz will premiere on 2 May 2024 on Sky Atlantic in the UK & Ireland, and Peacock in the US. It will then stream on NOW.