German-Lebanese thesp Kida Khodr Ramadan, the “4 Blocks” standout whose profile jumped internationally via Amazon Prime Video, is set to star in “GÖZ,” a radical contemporary reimagining of Goethe’s “Götz von Berlichingen” to be directed by Nuran David Calis, known for his modern-screen adaptation of Büchner’s “Woyzeck.”
The film is in development at Munich and Berlin-based Maze Pictures, whose European co-production project “Phoenix” has been selected at this year’s Berlinale Market Series.
Produced by Geraldine Laprell and Philipp Kreuzer for Maze Pictures, “GÖZ” reframes Goethe’s iron-handed knight as a present-day anti-hero fighting urban displacement.
Set in a neighborhood pressured by corporate interests and political corruption, the story follows Ramadan’s character as he leads a resistance to protect his home and his honor.
“Kida Khodr Ramadan brings an unmatched intensity and authenticity to this role,” Laprell and Kreuzer said in a statement, positioning him as “the perfect force to embody the spirit of Goethe’s most defiant rebel.”
The film marks a high-profile return to classical material for director Nuran David Calis – the son of Armenian-Jewish immigrants from Turkey – whose previous cinematic adaptation of Georg Büchner’s “Woyzeck” — starring Tom Schilling and Nora von Waldstätten — earned critical acclaim for its bold, modern vision.
With “GÖZ,” Calis aims to bridge the gap between 18th-century “Sturm und Drang” and the socio-political tensions of modern-day Germany.
The producers also point to Calis’ “Woyzeck” as a reference point for how he translates canonical material into a modern register.
“GÖZ” also extends Maze’s broader positioning as a German independent with an outward-facing, international co-production profile.
The company’s producer credits include Rupert Everett’s Oscar Wilde biopic “The Happy Prince” (starring Everett and Colin Firth), the Daniel Radcliffe-led action-comedy “Guns Akimbo” and Abel Ferrara’s “Siberia,” toplined by Willem Dafoe. Maze has also been involved in “Rumours,” an ensemble comedy featuring Cate Blanchett and Alicia Vikander.
On the TV side, Maze has toggled between local commissioning and multi-territory structures, including the German-Dutch-Norwegian fantasy series “Heirs of the Night” and the France 2-linked bestseller adaptation “The Crimson Rivers,” now in its fourth season.
The company’s “Sunshine Eyes” won the Special Jury Prize at Series Mania and later streamed on Netflix, while Bavarian series “Himmel, Herrgott, Sakrament” launched strongly on German TV and is currently streaming on Amazon.
Through subsidiary Supernix, Maze has also participated in high-profile international productions toplined by major English-language stars, including “Nine Perfect Strangers” Season 2 (headlined by Nicole Kidman) and “Cliffhanger” (with Pierce Brosnan and Lily James), reinforcing the company’s role as a cross-border partner on cast-driven packages.