In a gripping work of investigative journalism, mark seal reveals how german native christian gerhartsreiter came to the. Apr 12, 2017 benedict cumberbatch targets man in the rockefeller suit apr 12, 2017. The favourite director yorgos lanthimos is set to direct and executive produce a limited series for searchlight television based on mark seals nonfiction book the man in the rockefeller suit. Benedict cumberbatch to be the man in the rockefeller suit by mike fleming jr.
The series is based on the nonfiction book by mark seal, and tells the story of. Usa today this shocking expose goes behind the headlines to uncover the true story of clark rockefeller. According to mark seals riveting the man in the rockefeller suit viking, from the age of 17, gerhartsreiter began switching identities as a woman does lipstick, even, at one point, giving himself an aristocratic title. Apr 12, 2017 benedict cumberbatch to be the man in the rockefeller suit by mike fleming jr. An exclusive adaptation from mark seals new book, the man in the rockefeller suit, about german con artist christian gerhartsreiter, who posed for over a decade as a scion of the fabled. Mark seals true crime book, the man in the rockefeller suit expanded from an original vf article seal had written is the story of a man who everyone seemed to believe was a member of the rockefeller family.
Seal worked as a journalist in texas before becoming a freelance magazine writer in 1984, a contributing editor at vanity fair since 2003, and has written and cowritten about 15 books. While seal notes that a few people failed to believe rockefellers stories or personas, the majority of people gerhartstreiter met were more than happy to call the eccentric aristocrat friend, neighbor, business partner, club member, or. An extraordinary life and untimely death in africa, 2009 unravels the complex case of clark rockefeller, a fiendishly clever con man who, over the course of three decades, insinuated himself into the highest echelons of american society using only his wits and a borrowed name. Take two unmasking the man in the rockefeller suit 89. Benedict cumberbatch targets man in the rockefeller suit apr 12, 2017. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Originally in development as a film at fox searchlight starring benedict. Benedict cumberbatch to be the man in the rockefeller suit.
Actor benedict cumberbatch is in negotiations to play a con artist in man in the rockefeller suit. Buy a cheap copy of the man in the rockefeller suit. The man in the rockefeller suit is the real life tale of a german tourist named christian gerhartsreiter who arrived in the usa at the age of seventeen and for 30 years lived a self created odyssey by masquerading as everything from an ivy league educated aristocrat to a member of the rockefeller family. In his late teens, gerhartsreiter moved to the us, where he lived under a succession of aliases while variously claiming to be an actor, director, art collector, a physicist, a. Reminiscent of the simpsons episode in which monte burns makes a film about his life casting him as the hero. Apr 12, 2017 benedict cumberbatch is in early talks to star in fox searchlights adaptation of the man in the rockefeller suit, sources confirmed to variety. From german kid to rockefeller scion for three decades, christian gerhartsreiter claimed to be someone else. Heston starred as ramon miguel vargas in the 1958 crime film, a mexican narcotics officer. The rockefeller name was despised in america associated not only with ludlow but with standard oil. Yorgos lanthimos to helm the man in the rockefeller suit vulture. He conned everyone from college admissions officers to pastors to his own wife, a graduate of harvard business school. You cant read the man in the rockefeller suit without wondering if rockefeller would have conned you too. Benedict cumberbatch starring in the man in the rockefeller suit alex welch apr 12, 2017 benedict cumberbatch is reportedly in talks to play the titular role in fox.
Aug 02, 2012 the man in the rockefeller suit is the real life tale of a german tourist named christian gerhartsreiter who arrived in the usa at the age of seventeen and for 30 years lived a self created odyssey by masquerading as everything from an ivy league educated aristocrat to a member of the rockefeller family. As clark rockefeller, gerhartsreiter conned everyone in his path, including neighbors, pastors, collegeadmissions officers, and even his own wife, a harvard business school graduate. Based on mark seals book, the story follows christian karl. The man in the rockefeller suit has all the elements required to make a vigorous and compelling drama. Benedict cumberbatch starring in the man in the rockefeller suit alex welch apr 12, 2017 benedict cumberbatch is reportedly in talks to play the titular role in fox searchlights the man in the rockefeller suit. Benedict cumberbatch is in early talks to star in fox searchlights adaptation of the man in the rockefeller suit, sources confirmed to variety.
Benedict cumberbatch to star in man in the rockefeller suit. A conman fools others into thinking hes a member of the wealthy rockefeller family. Mar 11, 20 unmasking the man in the rockefeller suit. Watch the rockefellers american experience official site. It will be a thrill to watch benedict cumberbatch become mr. Yorgos lanthimos to direct the man in the rockefeller suit for. Born in germany, he is currently serving a prison sentence in california. Yorgos lanthimos to direct the man in the rockefeller suit series. Benedict cumberbatch is in early talks to portray con man christian karl gerhartsreiter in fox searchlights the man in the. In his late teens, gerhartsreiter moved to the us, where he lived under a succession of aliases while variously claiming to be an actor, director, art collector, a physicist, a ships captain, a negotiator of international debt. The astonishing rise and spectacular fall of a serial imposter by mark seal.
The adaptation will center around the man known as clark rockefeller, who posed as a member of the famed family as part of a deca. The favourite and the lobster director yorgos lanthimos is headed to tv with the man in the rockefeller suit. The paperback of the the man in the rockefeller suit. The man in the rockefeller suit by mark seal longform. The story of clark rockefeller is a strangerthanfiction twist on the classic american success story of the selfmade man because clark rockefeller was totally made up.
The man in the rockefeller suit full movie youtube. They believed that he was clark rockefeller because he told them he was and because he acted the part. About the author mark seal is a contributing editor at vanity fair, where his piece on gerhartsreiter was a finalist for a 2010 national magazine award. Yorgos lanthimos to helm the man in the rockefeller suit. The rockefeller family is still despised by anyone who actually pays attention to world events. While seal notes that a few people failed to believe rockefeller s stories or personas, the majority of people gerhartstreiter met were more than happy to call the eccentric aristocrat friend, neighbor, business partner, club member, or. The astonishing rise and spectacular fall of a serial imposter. Be the first to ask a question about the man in the rockefeller suit. The man in the rockefeller suit by mark seal overdrive. So when seal began conducting research for what would become the book the man in the rockefeller suit, he found himself in the company of pleasant people who were articulate in their stories about the diminutive oddball in khakis, polo shirts, boat shoes no socks, ever and a prep school accent. The adaptation will center around the man known as clark. The story of the man in the rockefeller suit is a probing and cinematic exploration of an audacious imposerand a man determined to live the american dream by any means necessary. How christian gerhartsreiter became clark rockefeller wsj.
Clark rockefeller, who has been charged with murder in an l. Its a very sophisticated and subtle comedyfarce that takes a dig at a number of the. Coopers been fairly inactive these past couple of years, but assuming both the man in the rockefeller suit and the emperors children pan out, it sounds like hell be much busier in the future. Reading guide for the man in the rockefeller suit by mark seal. Series tells the true story of famous conartist clark rockefeller. Jul 14, 2018 star lord vs ego final battle, yondu arrow scene best scenes guardians of the galaxy vol 2 duration. The man in the rockefeller suit, mark seal, nonfiction book. By the end of the book, how have your impressions of him and gerhartsreiter shifted. By snatching his sevenyearold daughter from her mothers custody, after a bitter divorce, the man calling himself clark rockefeller blew the lid off a lifelong. Christian karl gerhartsreiter born february 21, 1961 is a convicted murderer and impostor. The story of clark rockefeller is a strangerthanfiction twist on the classic american success story of the selfmade manbecause clark rockefeller was totally made up. By snatching his sevenyearold daughter from her mothers custody, after a bitter divorce, the man calling himself clark rockefeller blew the lid off a.
The man in the rockefeller suit movie casts cumberbatch film. An extraordinary life and untimely death in africa, 2009 unravels the complex case of clark rockefeller, a fiendishly clever con man who, over the course of three decades, insinuated himself into the highest echelons of. The man in the rockefeller suit when clark rockefeller snatched his daughter during a custody dispute, what the d. I strongly recommend that these two books are read together. The man in the rockefeller suit 2014 rotten tomatoes. Despite ostensibly sharing a single topic, they have very little overlap in specifics. The career con man who convincingly passed himself off as rockefeller was born in a small village in germany. Yorgos lanthimosjury photocall, 72nd cannes film festival, france 14 may. Yorgos lanthimos to direct the man in the rockefeller suit.
After fleeing his german hometown, he developed a series of false. The great impostor how the son of a german housepainter tricked the rich and gullible into believing he was an american blue blood. Reports are emerging that doctor strange, benedict cumberbatch is currently in talks with to take the lead in the man in the rockefeller suit. How rockefeller built his trillion dollar oil empire youtube. The man in the rockefeller suit doesnt have a director attached yet, but heres hoping cumberbatch and company can score a filmmaker talented enough to imbue this story with the right balance. Yorgos lanthimos to direct the man in the rockefeller suit series at searchlight tv. The man in the rockefeller suit, by mark seal sfgate. The astonishing rise and spectacular fall of a serial impostor. Mark seal, a contributing editor at vanity fair, just released a new book about the con man, the man in the rockefeller suit. Continue reading benedict cumberbatch to star in foreverdeveloping the man in the rockefeller suit at the playlist. Benedict cumberbatch to star in foreverdeveloping the man. Man in the white suit is perhaps, along with kind hearts and coronets, the pinnacle of the ealing film. Cumberbatch in talks to star in the man in the rockefeller suit. The man in the rockefeller suit is one such film, and it has been puttering around for over a halfdecade as directors like scott cooper, walter salles, and pablo trapero all came and went.
The astonishing rise and spectacular fall of a serial. Jul 10, 2011 the man in the rockefeller suit the astonishing rise and spectacular fall of a serial impostor by mark seal viking. The astonishing rise and spectacular fall of a serial impostor seal, mark on. Walter salles will bring an exciting vision to this sordid tale. Star lord vs ego final battle, yondu arrow scene best scenes guardians of the galaxy vol 2 duration.
The author follows the twisted path of christian k. No release date is set for the man in the rockefeller suit. Benedict cumberbatch is in early talks to portray con man christian karl. Well, the movie now has a star, which will hopefully help in getting it into production. Apr 25, 2012 mark seals true crime book, the man in the rockefeller suit expanded from an original vf article seal had written is the story of a man who everyone seemed to believe was a member of the rockefeller family. The man in the rockefeller suit the astonishing rise and spectacular fall of a serial impostor by mark seal viking.