FX is reportedly developing a limited series focused on Rasputin, an adviser to the ill-fated Russian Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia until 1917.
According to Deadline, which first reported the news, the project will be based on Rasputin: Dark Forces And The Fall of The Romanovs by Douglas Smith. Paul Scheuring (Prison Break) is writing the script, with Indian director Shekhar Kapur on board to direct. Scheuring and Kapur are executive producing, with Smith on as a consultant.
Rasputin was seen as a healer, who wormed his way into an advisor position for the Romanovs during their final years before the Bolsheviks overthrew them. There are stories that he dabbled in black magic and heresy, all of which gained him enemies who finally killed him in 1916. The mini-series looks to answer the question - who was the real Rasputin?
Kapur, who directed Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth, has been interested in the Rasputin topic for years, so when FX heard about that, they approached him to helm the series.
This isn’t the only Rasputin project in the works in Hollywood. Back in June, Leonardo DiCaprio signed on to star in a Warner Bros. project, although there hasn't been much heard on that since then.
image: Wikimedia Commons
