Merkel movie set for 2017 - but who will play her?

Merkel movie set for 2017 - but who will play her?
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Summary News of the planned biopic appeared to have captured Twitter users' imaginations.

 

 

BERLIN (AFP) - A movie about the life of German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks set to hit the big screen in 2017 under plans announced by a TV production company on Tuesday.

But the big question of who will take on the role of the 60-year-old often described as the world s most powerful woman is not expected to be decided until later this year, said the company, AVE.

The international co-production -- currently under the self-explanatory working title "Angela Merkel" -- is due for release in two years  time, when Germany is next scheduled to hold general elections.

Merkel -- a pastor s daughter and trained scientist who was raised in communist East Germany -- became Germany s first female chancellor in November 2005.

At the height of the eurozone s debt woes, Merkel was vilified abroad and portrayed with a Hitler moustache for pushing austerity, but applauded at home for her prudent crisis management.

Polls now suggest she would win a fourth term as chancellor in 2017 if she runs again, which analysts currently expect her to do.

"She is charming and known worldwide. She causes quite a stir, she gets involved. It s time to film her life for a worldwide audience," AVE head Walid Nakschbandi said in a statement.

Behind the movie s screenplay is a journalist from Spiegel news weekly and author, Dirk Kurbjuweit.

"She s the most fascinating politician of our time," he said.

During the last election year in 2013, the notoriously guarded conservative leader revealed small glimpses into her private life -- saying she finds "nice eyes" attractive in men and can easily handle an all-night summit without sleep.

News of the planned biopic appeared to have captured Twitter users  imaginations.

"This is one biopic I d pay good euros to see: #Merkel the movie is in the works," read one Tweet. 

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