‘The Dovekeepers’ is based on Alice Hoffman’s acclaimed historical novel about four extraordinary women whose lives intersect in a fight for survival at the siege of Masada. Set in ancient Israel, ‘The Dovekeepers’ is based on true events of Masada in 70 CE. After being forced out of their home in Jerusalem by the Romans, 900 Jews were ensconced in a fortress at Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert. The Miniseries will recount the unfolding events from the perspective of four extraordinary women who arrive at Masada with unique backstories, but who share a common bond for survival. The Chilean actress Cote de Pablo, Diego Boneta and Manhattan actress Rachel Brosnahan have all been casted for leading roles.
The miniseries is the first project from CBS entertainment and CBS television studios’ limited series and event programming unit. ‘The Dovekeepers’ is a coproduction between CBS Television Studios and Light Workers Media.
Minister Manuel Mallia in charge of the Film Industry, expressed satisfaction and remarked that Malta is widely known for its versatile locations and is really becoming a Hollywood destination in the Mediterranean.
Film Commissioner Engelbert Grech expressed satisfaction to CBS for choosing Malta as their destination. Without doubt, the inflow of productions to Malta has been impressive. Malta’s rich and diverse filmography ranges from the award-winning Gladiator (2000) starring Brad Pitt to Captain Phillips (2013) starring Tom Hanks, which, along with numerous other projects, have elevated Malta’s profile as a veritable filming location. With 90 years of film serving in Malta, the island is well equipped to welcome any type of production from feature Film, Television & documentaries which all benefit from a cash rebate of up to 27%. Along with the incentives and the well-equipped water tanks, the island boasts a great climate, locals speak English and it is very competitive when compared with Western European territories.
Malta is currently host to two other feature films productions ‘Clavius’, an epic thriller set in the early first-century, starring Joseph Fiennes (Hercules) and Tom Felton (Harry Potter) and ‘By the Sea’ by Angelina Jolie who wrote the screenplay and is directing and producing the film with Brad Bitt co-producing.
Cote de Pablo – starred as Special Agent Ziva David for eight seasons on the hit of series NCIS. Additional credits include The Jury, The Street, Fling and the Network’s The Education of Max Bickford. Her feature film credits include the upcoming project ‘The 33’ based on the true story of the rescued Chilean miners, which also stars Antonio Banderas and Juliette Binoche. Her feature film debut was in ‘The Last Rites of Ransom Pride’ from Director Tiller Russell, with Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam and Jason Priestley.
“Pele” player Diego Boneta will star as Amram, a man linked to two of the central female characters in the epic story set in biblical times. Boneta recently wrapped a key role in the Imagine biopic “Pele,” in which he plays Brazilian soccer player Jose Altafini.
Manhattan co-star Rachel Brosnahan will play Yael, a uniquely beautiful and fearless young woman whose mother died in childbirth, and whose father forever blames her for that loss. Brosnahan currently stars in WGN America's atomic bomb drama Manhattan and next appears in HBO's Olive Kitteridge mini. Her TV credits include House of Cards, The Black List, Black Box, Orange Is the New Black and the film Beautiful Creatures.
