UK Film Council Fund Thriller About Notorious African Skyscraper

Thriller 'Ponte Tower', a planned co-production project between the UK and South Africa, is in the first stage of development with Lottery funding from the UK Film Council’s Development Fund.
Loosely developed from the book by German novelist Norman Ohler and shot entirely within the infamous Ponte Tower, UK director Danny Boyle (Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Sunshine) and writer Michael Thomas (The Hunger, Scandal, Backbeat) are developing an uncompromising thriller set beneath the largest illuminated Coca-Cola sign in the world.
The tallest skyscraper on the continent, initially symbolising white affluence, Ponte Tower came to represent change and upheaval in South Africa, known by the end of apartheid as one of the most dangerous addresses in the world.
Gina Carter (producer on Heartlands, Bright Young Things, Snow Cake, co-producer on 24 Hour Party People) is producer on the project, along with Frank Kunster. The project is being developed on a step-by-step basis.
Previously Boyle successfully bought adaptations of two best-selling books to the big screen, Alex Garland’s 'The Beach', and Irvine Welsh’s 'Trainspotting'. Gina Carter produced 'Heartlands', adapted from Paul Fraser’s novel, Bright Young Things, adapted from Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh and co-produced 24 Hour Party People, adapted from Tony Wilson’s book. Michael Thomas has written many book adaptations and dramatisations of biographical events for film including Scandal, about the Profumo affair, and Backbeat, chronicling the Beatles in Germany.
Projects adapted from books to films with support from the UK Film Council’s Development Fund include Anand Tucker’s 'And When Did You Last See Your Father?', Justin Chadwick’s 'The Other Boleyn Girl', Nicolas Roeg’s 'Puffball', Eric Schlosser’s 'Fast Food Nation', Terry Gilliam’s 'Tideland' and Metin Hüseyin’s 'Anita and Me'.
(DS/SP)