"Alone in Damascus" Biopic Looks At Mossad Spy

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

Eric Eisner’s production company has scored the feature film rights to the novel "Alone in Damascus," says Variety.

According to Variety: Eisner's L+E Pictures has acquired feature rights to Shmu-el Segev's "Alone in Damascus," which recounts the story of Israeli spy Eli Cohen.

Cohen worked as a Mossad agent from 1960 until his public execution in 1965 and built close ties with Syrian leaders, almost rising to the rank of Syrian defense minister. He's credited with supplying Israel with many details on Syrian political and military matters.

Lior Geller, who wrote, directed and produced the Israeli short film “Roads,” will write the script.

Eisner, son of former Disney chief Michael Eisner, founded L+E four years ago. The banner's first film, "Hamlet 2," was acquired at Sundance in 2008 for $10 million, and starred Steve Coogan and Catherine Keener.

They are also developing "The Bait," "The King of Sting," "Havana Nocturne" and a Jerry Garcia biopic, the latter of which is about Garcia's life before he joined the band that would become the Grateful Dead.

The plot sounds as if it will be very interesting and the project, which will include espionage and international intrigue, could be an awards candidate next year. Steven Speilberg’s film “Munich” also depicted the undercover lives of Mossad agents, so it will be interesting to see how “Alone in Damascus” will look and feel.

Look for the film in 2011.