Skeletons on the Zahara is an upcoming adaptation of the Dean King book, the true-life saga of a group of 19th century American sailors who were forced into slavery after winding up shipwrecked in Africa.
At this moment, we have no word about the possible director, or cast, but we definitely know that this project could be something awesome, especially with one of the Public Enemies writers Ronan Bennett on board for penning the script!
We’ll pay good attention on this project in the future, but until then, check out the description of Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival book:
“…the book begins with a seeming false start: tracing the lives of two merchants from North Africa, Seid and Sidi Hamet, who lose their fortunes—and almost their lives—when their massive camel caravan arrives at a desiccated oasis. King then jumps to the voyage of the Commerce under Captain Riley and his 11-man crew.
After stops in New Orleans and Gibraltar, the ship falls off course en route to the Canary Islands and ultimately wrecks at the infamous Cape Bojador. After the men survive the first predations of the nomads on the shore, they meander along the coast looking for a way inland as their supplies dwindle.
They subsist for days by drinking their own urine. Eventually, to their horror, they discover that they have come aground on the edge of the Sahara Desert. They submit themselves, with hopes of getting food and water, as slaves to the Oulad Bou Sbaa. After days of abuse, they are bought by Hamet, who, after his own experiences with his failed caravan (described at the novels opening), sympathizes with the plight of the crew.
Together, they set off on a hellish journey across the desert to collect a bounty for Hamet in Swearah. King embellishes this compelling narrative throughout with scientific and historical material explaining the origins of the camel, the market for English and American slaves, and the stages of dehydration.”
