Matthew Rhys is in talks with Netflix for ‘The Power Broker’ adaptation
Robert Caro’s 1974 biography of New York town planner Robert Moses, The Power Broker, is possibly gearing up for its first screen adaptation. And Netflix has seemingly shown interest, with Matthew Rhys circling the project, fresh off his successful stint in The Beast in Me.
Rhys announced The Power Broker project on the SiriusXM podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, earlier on Monday.
According to reports, Rhys is expected to star in the adaptation as Moses. While it remains unclear whether the project would be a movie or a show, considering the length of the book, it could indeed materialise as a multi-part series.
“There is a select group of us who have approached a very well-known streaming platform. But at the moment, dear Mr Caro, he doesn’t have an issue with handing over the rights to The Power Broker. The agencies and publishing houses do,” Rhys said. “So, at the moment, it’s in this stalemate whereby I know the Flix called Net are trying to acquire the rights to The Power Broker. It’s been pitched. They do want to do it.”
“I have no sway in this business at all. I have a little bit of sway with Robert Caro, just because I think he knows me. I’ve interviewed him. He knows I’m a huge fan and an acolyte of his, but I would do everything in my power to make sure that you play. I think you’d be amazing. And I think that would be just a terrific project,” O’Brien continued.
Considered as one of the most distinguished books of the 20th century, The Power Broker was originally published by Knopf, a segment of Penguin Random House.
Earlier in 2011, Oliver Stone was reportedly in talks to direct a movie, inspired by the book, for HBO, with James Gandolfini and Peter Guber serving as executive producers. However, the project didn’t materialise at the end of the day (via Deadline).
For those uninitiated, The Power Broker chronicles the rise of Robert Moses, widely considered the most influential man of his time in all of New York. He remodelled the city and its surrounding areas, including suburbs, through groundbreaking initiatives such as parkways, highways, bridges, and various other projects. The Pulitzer Prize-winning book was released over five decades ago, in 1974, and is in its 74th printing. According to Caro, the book sold a whopping 40,000 copies even last year.
While Netflix has yet to comment on the developments, the revelation is probably enough reason for viewers and readers to look forward to something rather exciting in the future.