Noah Gordon’s novel was a global bestseller. No wonder the story of The Medicus would one day find its way to the big screen. However, with what very few counted have: The adaptation of the historical material did not come from the USA, the author’s homeland, but from Germany.
In 2013, director Philipp Stölzl (Schachnovelle) brought Medicus, played by The Walking Dead star Tom Payne, to the cinema. The complex production devoured a considerable budget of 26 million euros and became a huge success in Germany. You can watch the film on TV tonight.
The Doctor on TV: Epic adventure film from Germany delves into the 11th century and adapts a world bestseller
The plot of The Medicus is set in the 11th century and tells of the young Rob Cole (Tom Payne), the one special gift has: He senses whether people will survive their illnesses or whether their death warrant has already been signed. But what good is a gift without knowledge? Cole wants to learn that too.
You can watch the trailer for The Medicus here:
The Medicus – Trailer (German) HD
It doesn’t take long for Cole to realize that medicine in Persia is much more developed and researched than in Europe. So he sets off on the long journey there new medical experiences to collect. Before he knows it, however, he is drawn into a conflict between world religions.
The success story of Der Medicus: International stars, expensive filming and an unexpected sequel
The medic takes us on Cole’s journey and waits with some impressive visual values on which definitely exude a blockbuster feeling. The cast is also of international stature: Hollywood stars such as Ben Kingsley and Stellan Skarsgård can be seen alongside Elyas M’Barek and Fahri Yardım.
When filming, Stölzl fully exploited the possibilities of large-scale production: Over the course of 60 days, Der Medicus was shot not only in studio halls, but also in many original locations filmed – especially in Morocco. The landscapes and buildings create a real feeling of adventure in the film.
Universal
The Medicus
The Medicus was a complete success at the box office: in Germany alone three million tickets sold, grossing $42 million, according to Box Office Mojo. Worldwide revenue is $57 million. The announcement of the sequel Medicus II still came as a surprise. The story continues over a decade after Part 1.
German adventure film: When is Der Medicus on TV?
The medicus is running tonight on April 26, 2024 at 8:15 p.m. on 3sat. The film will be shown without commercial breaks and will run until 10:40 p.m. There is no repeat. If you prefer to stream the film, you can currently do so on Amazon Prime Video, among others, with various purchase and rental options.
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