‘A Small Light’: Anne Frank’s Protector Limited Series Ordered by Disney+ From Nat Geo
For more than two years, Miep Gies sheltered and hid Anne Frank and her family from Nazis and then went on to preserve Anne’s diary. Disney+ has ordered a limited series from National Geographic about Gies.
The series follows a young twentysomething Miep who is approached by her boss Otto Frank to help hide him and his family from the Nazis during World War II. Without hesitation, Miep does this and for the next two years, she, her husband, and other aides looked after the eight souls comprising of Otto, Edith-his wife, daughters Anne and Margot plus four other people.
Miep was then one who found Anne’s diary and kept it safe so that Otto, the only survivor from the eight would later share it with the world. In 2010, Miep passed away at the age of 100. She was celebrated for her heroism and humanity. One saying of hers inspired the title for the series.
“I don’t like being called a hero because no one should ever think you have to be special to help others. Even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can turn on a small light in a dark room.”
Miep Gies
The project comes from Grey’s Anatomy alums Joan Rater and Tony Phelan, Susanna Fogel (The Flight Attendant), ABC Signature, and Keshet Studios. It is written by Rater and Phelan.
Fogel will direct multiple episodes of the series. ABC Signature and Keshet Studios will collaborate in producing. Fogel, Rater, Phelan, Peter Traugott from Keshet Studios, Alon Shtruzman from Keshet International and Avi Nir from Keshet Media Group will executive produce.
Casting of the three main characters, Miep, Otto, and Jan is currently underway. The series will be seven episodes long. Filming is set for later in the year in Europe.
Fogel directed and executive produced the first two episodes of HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant, earning a DGA Award and an Emmy nomination. She has co-written The Spy Who Dumped Me starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon and the highly acclaimed Booksmart (2019).
Netflix released an original film titled My Best Friend Anne Frank based on the real-life friendship between Anne Frank and Hannah Goslar, from Nazi-occupied Amsterdam to their harrowing reunion in a concentration camp on February 1st, 2022.