Bear Grylls' production company sets Francis Annan to helm The Count Of Monte Cristo adaptation

British adventurer, writer, and television presenter Bear Grylls' production company has set director Francis Annan (Escape From Pretoria) to direct its maiden scripted feature production, a contemporary reworking of The Count Of Monte Cristo.

Annan will adapt the script and direct the film, which is set in Afghanistan. The previous version of the script was written by Tom Williams (Kajaki). Based on the famous Alexander Dumas novel. The story will focus on the friendship and bitter rivalry that develops between two special forces soldiers who are sent to war in Afghanistan.

The project is being produced by Grylls' Natural Studios and Pure Grass’s Ben Grass and Christophe Charlier.

Notably, another modern-day adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' The Count Of Monte Cristo is in development at Constantin Films, with Jack Huston attached to star.

Other than this, Annan also has the period thriller Five Streets One Summer’s Day in development. The director's 2020 thriller Escape From Pretoria starred Daniel Radcliffe and Daniel Webber.