Ridley Scott, Asif Kapadia to adapt 'Sapiens'

Directors Ridley Scott and Asif Kapadia are teaming up for the adaptation of acclaimed bestseller 'Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind'.

Written by Israeli professor Yuval Noah Harari, the non-fiction book traces the journey of humans from prehistoric times to their present dominant role on the planet.

According to 'The Hollywood Reporter', Scott will produce and Kapadia will direct the adaptation. It is not yet certain whether the production will be a TV series, a full-length feature or another format altogether.

Kapadia said, "It is a book that changes how you see the world and our adaptation should do the same, to serve as a wake-up call for who we are, where we have come from and where we are heading."

Scott added that he and Kapadia had been looking for a project to collaborate on for years, and "'Sapiens' has "all the elements to be massively entertaining as well as historically important".

Harari, who teaches history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, will also be involved in the project.

"We hope to mix science, fiction, history, drama and genius in order to bring to life the incredible journey of our species, that began as an insignificant animal and is now on the verge of becoming a god," the author said.

'Sapiens' became a runaway bestseller, with eight million copies sold since its publication in 2011. It received rave reviews from critics and boasts of personalities like Barack Obama and Bill Gates among its fans.

Scott and Kapadia procured the rights of the book in 2017. Supported by Wellcome, the project is a collaboration between Scott Free Productions and On the Corner Films.