More than a decade on from that dramatic raid on his New Zealand home, MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom is still fighting extradition to the US on fraud charges in relation to his long defunct allegedly copyright infringing file-transfer site. But we can’t hang around waiting for a conclusion to this story forever. It’s time for a TV biopic.
Germany’s ZDF Studios, Boogie Entertainment and Aristosfilms have announced that they are adapting David Fisher’s 2013 book ‘The Secret Life Of Kim Dotcom: Spies, Lies And The War For The Internet’ into a six part series.
Given the snappier title ‘The Kim Dotcom Story’, ZDF says that the TV show will be a “thrilling mix of investigative thriller, courtroom drama and a gripping exploration of the darker corners of the internet”.
And if you’re wondering if it will take a view on Dotcom and his somehow still alleged crimes, it adds that it will act as “an extraordinary chronicle of a modern-day outlaw who, against all expectations, has become an unlikely hero for the cause of internet freedom”.
"In 'The Kim Dotcom Story,' we dive deep into the intriguing grey area that separates legitimate tech innovation from perceived illegitimacy, especially when it comes to the exploitation of copyrighted content”, says Robert Franke, VP Drama at ZDF Studios. “This project is a compelling exploration of the modern digital landscape, where lines blur, and the tech world's true colours are revealed”.
Sounds like Hollywood and the record labels are going to love it. Casting and location scouting have already begun, and filming is set to be completed in 2025. By that time, Dotcom’s extradition battle may have come to an end. Don’t bank on it though.