'The Pillars of the Earth', the International Bestseller by World-renowned Ken Follett Will be the Event Series of 2009.

'The Pillars of the Earth', the International Bestseller by World-renowned Ken Follett Will be the Event Series of 2009.

MUNICH, Germany, April 2/PRNewswire/ -- Eighteen years after its first publication, The Pillars of the Earth,
considered by most to be Ken Follett's masterpiece, is once again Number #1
on the New York Times trade paperback list and has been optioned by TANDEM
COMMUNICATIONS to be made into a limited television series. Ridley Scott and
Tony Scott's production company, Scott Free Inc. will be producing this
worldwide bestseller together with Tandem.

"Ken Follett's story-telling artistry presents a richness and brilliance
we dream about when searching for outstanding properties," says Ridley Scott
of Scott Free Inc. "The scope and power of the story and the richness of the
characters inspires us to create the highest quality television programming."

"Tandem has been working on acquiring the rights to The Pillars of the
Earth for more than eight years," says Rola Bauer, Tandem's Managing
Director. "My partners and I absolutely love this book and understand that
only the medium of television can properly tell this amazingly rich story
full of drama, sensuality and pathos - it's the material that makes
international television events successful. We're also very proud to be
working again with the creative talent at Scott Free."

"After the successful collaboration between Scott Free and Tandem on the
award-winning miniseries The Company, we wanted a repeat," says David Zucker,
Scott Free's President of Television. "Both companies are bringing strengths
to the table that will collaboratively enable us to live up to the wonderful
challenges that such a monumental story demands."

The Pillars of the Earth is a sweeping epic of good and evil, treachery
and intrigue, violence and beauty. This sensuous, spirited and passionate
story is set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles
which tears lives and families apart. In that time, there rises a magnificent
Cathedral in Kingsbridge.

Against this backdrop, love-stories entwine: Tom, the master builder,
Aliena, the noblewoman, the sadistic Lord William, Philip, the prior of
Kingsbridge, Jack, the artist in stone work and Ellen, the woman from the
forest who casts a curse. At once, this is a sensuous and enduring love story
and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age. Follett
masterfully weaves these stories through the political turmoil of 12th
century England, creating a relevant and viable world for today's audience
and for generations to come.

The Pillars of the Earth has been translated into 30 languages and, to
date, has sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. In 2007, The Pillars of
the Earth was named Oprah Winfrey's 60th Book Club Selection; it is ranked
33rd on BBC's 2003 'The Big Read' as one of the top 100 books ever printed.

The Pillars of the Earth was chosen 27th out of the '101 Books to Read
Before You Die' and is ranked the third most popular book ever printed in
Germany after The Bible and The Lord of the Rings.

The Pillars of the Earth enjoys many more accolades too numerous to
mention.

Ken Follett's deal was brokered by CAA. David Nochimson of Ziffren Law
Firm brokered on behalf of Tandem Communications and Scott Free Television;
the latter of the two is also repped by CAA.

Based in Los Angeles and London, SCOTT FREE, INC. was formed in 1995 and
is the film and television production company of directors Ridley Scott and
Tony Scott.

Scott Free Television produces the hit CBS series Numb3rs, set to enter
its fifth season. A four-hour adaptation of Michael Crichton's landmark
novel, The Andromeda Strain is slated to premiere on A&E in May 2008. In
post-production is HBO's forthcoming Churchill at War, a sequel to the
Emmy(R)-winning telefilm, The Gathering Storm.

Scott Free Films produced the box-office smash American Gangster,
starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, and The Assassination of Jesse
James starring Brad Pitt.

Scott Free is in post-production on Ridley Scott's Body of Lies, starring
Leonardo DiCaprio, after which he'll helm Nottingham, a role-reversal of the
classic Robin Hood tale starring Russell Crowe. Tony Scott's next film will
be a remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, starring Denzel Washington and
John Travolta.

Ridley Scott's films include classics Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982),
Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000). Tony Scott's landmark films include
The Hunger (1983), Top Gun (1986), Enemy of the State (1998).

TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS was started in 1999 by Rola Bauer and Tim Halkin.
In 2007 Jonas Bauer became a partner in the company. From the beginning their
strategy was to build a vertically integrated media company whose core
business is International Production and Worldwide Distribution.

From the Emmy(r)nominated Dune to the Emmy(r)nominated Dragons' World to
the Golden Globe(r)nominated The Company to the Nora Roberts Franchise,
Tandem continues to identify and develop high-quality projects in a wide
range of event programming.

TANDEM produced the DIVA Award-winning The Ring of the Nibelungs and is
currently in production on Lost City Raiders, a new two-hour movie starring
James Brolin, Ian Somerhalder and Jamie Thomas King, scheduled for delivery
in October 2008.

TANDEM is co-producing Impact, a new four-hour miniseries slated to begin
principal photography in April 2008. TANDEM continues to grow its library of
event programming with wide audience appeal.

In 2007, TANDEM's production and distribution volume exceeded US$ 103
million; in 2008 that volume is expected to exceed US$ 152 million.

TANDEM'S head office is located in Munich, Germany.

For further information, please contact:
Karmen Svagan
Tandem Communications
Email: karmen.svagan@tandemcom.de
Phone: +49-89-96-22-83-00
Fax: +49-89-96-22-83-10

http://www.tandemcom.de

Source: Tandem Communcations

For further information, please contact: Karmen Svagan, Tandem Communications, Email: karmen.svagan@tandemcom.de, Phone: +49-89-96-22-83-00, Fax: +49-89-96-22-83-10, http://www.tandemcom.de

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