James R | On 18, May 2021

Amazon has cancelled its cheque for The Banker’s Wife, almost two years after it initially gave an eight-episode order to the series.

Cristina Alger’s novel is a high-stakes international thriller set in the world of global finance, from Geneva to Paris, London and New York, about two women racing for answers when a mysterious plane crash sets them off on parallel pursuits of truth. As they shine a light on hidden offshore accounts meant to be kept in the dark, the series will see the pair become embedded in the crosshairs of danger within a larger conspiracy of money laundering, powerful politicians and a web of terrorists and criminals, thus transforming their lives forever.

Amazon didn’t hesitate to give a straight-to-series commission for an adaptation, with Meredith Stiehm (Homeland) writing and Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland, Now and Then) directing all eight episodes.

Now, however, the project has become a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. Deadline reports that it had been subject to production delays but also budget challenges, after the pandemic stopped productions happening last year and the safety protocols required since make the logistics and costs of producing projects much higher. Filming never began on The Banker’s Wife, which neared the end of pre-production at the start of the pandemic last spring, but with five European countries on the production slate, the international nature of the project makes it a difficult prospect even in 2021.

According to Deadline, Amazon renewed the option on the book to wait and see if conditions improved, but has now made the difficult decision to call time on the series. Marsh and Marseille producer Federation will no doubt continue to find another home to bring the book to the screen.

It follows other projects surprisingly cancelled due to pandemic-related costs and challenges, including Netflix’s The Society, GLOW and I Am Not Okay with This.

Amazon to adapt The Banker’s Wife into series

5th August 2019

Amazon Studios has ordered an eight-episode season of The Banker’s Wife, based on the best-selling novel by Cristina Alger.

The book is a high-stakes international thriller set in the world of global finance, from Geneva to Paris, London and New York, about two women racing for answers when a mysterious plane crash sets them off on parallel pursuits of truth. As they shine a light on hidden offshore accounts meant to be kept in the dark, the series will see the pair become embedded in the crosshairs of danger within a larger conspiracy of money laundering, powerful politicians and a web of terrorists and criminals, thus transforming their lives forever.
 
“As soon as we read The Banker’s Wife, we knew this would be a series that our Amazon Prime Video customers will love, a fast-paced, compelling story that pulls you in immediately,” says Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “We’re thrilled to be working with Meredith and Lesli to bring their vision to the screen.”
 
Meredith Stiehm (Homeland) will write all eight episodes, with award-winning director Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland, Now and Then) directing all eight.

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