German-Lebanese actor Kida Khodor Ramadan, a standout from “4 Blocks” who rose to worldwide fame through Amazon Prime Video, is set to star in “GÖZ,” a contemporary reinterpretation of Goethe’s “Götz der Berlichingen,” to be directed by Nouran David Kallis, known for his modern adaptation of Büchner’s “Woyzeck.”
The film is in development at Munich and Berlin-based Maze Pictures, whose European co-production project Phoenix was selected for this year’s Berlinale Market Series.
Produced by Geraldine Laprere and Philipp Kreutzer for Maze Pictures, GÖZ reimagines Goethe’s Iron Man as a modern-day antihero fighting urban exile.
The story follows Ramadan, who leads a resistance to protect his home and honor in a region oppressed by corporate interests and political corruption.
“Kida Khodr Ramadan brings an unparalleled intensity and authenticity to this role,” Laprelle and Kreutzer said in a statement, calling him “the perfect person to embody Goethe’s most rebellious spirit.”
The film marks a high-profile return to classic material for director Nouran David Karis, the son of Armenian-Jewish immigrants from Turkey. The director’s adaptation of Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck, starring Tom Schilling and Nora von Waldstetten, won critical acclaim for its bold, contemporary vision.
With GÖZ, Karis aims to bridge the gap between 18th century Sturm und Drang and the sociopolitical tensions of modern Germany.
Producers also point to Caris’ Woyzeck as a reference point for how to translate canonical material into a modern range.
GÖZ also extends Maze’s broader status as a German independent film with an outward-looking international co-production profile.
The company’s producers include Rupert Everett’s Oscar Wilde biopic The Happy Prince (starring Everett and Colin Firth), the action comedy Guns Akimbo starring Daniel Radcliffe, and Abel Ferrara’s Siberia, which was headed by Willem Dafoe. Mays is also part of the ensemble comedy “Rumours,” starring Cate Blanchett and Alicia Vikander.
On the TV side, Mays has bounced between local commissions and multi-territory structures, including the German-Dutch-Norwegian fantasy series “Heirs of the Night,” and the best-selling adaptation “Crimson Rivers,” in partnership with two French countries, currently in its fourth season.
The company’s “Sunshine Eyes” won a Special Jury Award at Series Mania and was subsequently streamed on Netflix. Additionally, the Bavarian series “Himmel, Herrgott, Sakrament” has started well on German television and is currently available to stream on Amazon.
Through its subsidiary Supernics, Maze also participates in high-profile international productions starring major English-speaking stars, such as “Nine Perfect Strangers” Season 2 (starring Nicole Kidman) and “Cliffhanger” (starring Pierce Brosnan and Lily James), reinforcing the company’s role as a cross-border partner in cast-driven packages.
