EXCLUSIVE: British-Iranian screenwriter Juliette Towhidi (Calendar Girls, Testament of Youth) is attached to pen the untitled feature film project about Farah Pahlavi, Empress of Iran, wife of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
As Deadline announced last summer, a newly formed collaboration with Women of the Movement producers Serendipity Group and John Powers Middleton, an official documentary and film project, was in the works. The doc began production in Washington, D.C., and continued through the end of 2024. Work is set to resume this month. Emily Atef is set as the film’s director.
The film will explore the life of Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi, focusing on the resilience of a woman who, despite an exile lasting more than 45 years and mourning the loss of her husband and two children, remains deeply devoted to her duty as a sovereign and attached to her homeland. She never remarried or gave up her Iranian identity. Her marriage to the Shah goes far beyond a union between a man and a woman or between a subject and her sovereign; it is a union of a citizen with her homeland — until death tore them apart.
“The Empress’ life has been extraordinary. Rarely has the destiny of one woman so closely mirrored that of her nation and our turbulent times,” said Towhidi in a statement to Deadline.
“Thrust into the spotlight at a tender age, she walked the corridors of power at a time when Iran was the darling of the West, only to find her and her family’s lives turned upside down by revolution and stateless exile. She faced all of it, the highs and lows, with care and grace. It’s a true privilege to have this opportunity to tell her story, to explore my own roots, and to work alongside a director as talented and inspiring as Emily Atef,” she added.
Farah Pahlavi, Empress of Iran
Courtesy of Farah Pahlavi’s personal archive
Towhidi is known for her work as the co-screenwriter of the 2003 feature Calendar Girls starring Helen Mirren and Julie Waters, and the screenwriter of Testament of Youth (2014) with Alicia Vikander and Kit Harrington and Love, Rosie starring Lily Collins.
Her TV writing credits include the BBC three-part drama Death Comes to Pemberley starring Matthew Rhys. She is set to adapt Nina de Gramont’s best-selling novel The Christie Affair for Miramax TV, with Daisy Ridley set to star and executive produce, and the book adaptation of The First Time Lauren Died for Benedict Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch.
Producers of the Pahlavi film are Rosanna Grace and Nicole Tabs for Serendipity Group, Middleton for Middleton Media, David Clark for Mazo Partners and Sam Moazami for Moazami Pictures.
“Juliette’s writing is marked by a deep sensitivity and a keen ability to translate complex emotions onto the screen,” the producers shared in a joint statement. “Her style is characterized by its sharp wit and emotional depth, allowing audiences to connect intimately with her characters and their journeys. Whether exploring historical events or contemporary relationships, Towhidi’s scripts are imbued with a sense of classical grandeur and profound human understanding. Her background in journalism is evident throughout her work, as she displays a discerning eye for detail and authenticity.”
Towhidi’s journey to becoming a Hollywood screenwriter began with a career in journalism working for Reuters. Through her work, she has visited countries including Iran, India, Colombia and France, which influenced her writing. Her work often explores themes of love, loss and resilience, focusing on female characters and their experiences. She is repped by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates UK.
Content shared from deadline.com.