Alchemist transforming into a movie
Monday, May 19th, 2008Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist is going to be adapted into a movie. Harvey Weinstein will be the producer and Laurence Fishburne is attached to star and direct. Shooting starts a year from now.
The Alchemist is an inspirational fable about a Spanish shepherd, Santiago, who sets out on a quixotic quest to find a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. Along the way he learns various spiritual lessons. The lessons he learns include the importance of paying attention to the signs in our life and that it is our responsibility to follow our dreams because that is how we become in integrity with our soul. The most famous line in the book is:
“When you want something, all the Universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
The book has sold more than 30 million copies and is currently number seven on the New York Times bestseller list for paperback fiction. Coelho has been hesitant to adapt his book into a movie because the producers who have approached him have attempted to add violent war scenes to his book that have nothing to do with its message or plot. However, Coelho agreed to allow Harvey Weinstein adapt his book because Weinstein will stay true to Coelho’s messages about simplicity and spirituality.