It is not particularly surprising to learn that a streaming service has acquired the rights to adapt the life of Carlos Ghosn for the small screen, especially if you have been following the news in recent years as the French-Lebanese-Brazilian businessman, and former executive of Nissan and Renault, engineered what is undoubtedly one of the most astonishing escapes in modern history.
Let’s rewind to 2019, when Ghosn, who Forbes magazine once described in 2006 as “the hardest-working man in the brutally competitive global car business,” was under house arrest in Tokyo after he was accused of financial improprieties, amongst other charges that included corruption, money-laundering, and barratry.
Fearing for an unfair trial and deliberation as well as spending the rest of his life behind bars, Ghosn took it upon himself to mastermind a plan to smuggle himself out of the country and seek refuge under the sun of his native Lebanon.
With the help of an ex-special forces officer, the Brazilian-born tycoon hid himself inside a 3-foot musical instrument box, which was carted onto a private jet heading towards Beirut, the capital city of a country he grew up in and belongs to; and which also has no extradition agreements with Japan.
Located there ever since, today, the 69-year-old business mogul can be regularly seen leading panel discussions, talks, and seminars at prestigious universities around the Cedar State, appearing to be unbothered, to say the least, with the legal troubles he is still technically facing.
With cases open in 13 countries, namely Japan, France, Holland, the US, Switzerland, Brazil, Lebanon, the UAE, Oman, and KSA, the ex-Nissan CEO’s story has monopolized headlines in the past few years, and still sometimes does as his curious case of escape is yet to have reached its final chapter.
In the meantime, Apple TV+, the American tech giant’s own streaming platform, has just released a four-part docu-series which will trace the life of Ghosn from his meteoric rise in the automotive industry to his dramatic downfall involving international legal battles.
Providing an in-depth exploration of the complexities and controversies surrounding judiciary battles, the mini-program, titled Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn, has been available to stream since Aug. 25, and is a must-watch in our books, especially for those intrigued by high-stakes corporate intrigue and the intricate workings of international law.
Inspired by the critically-acclaimed biography Boundless by The Wall Street Journal reporters Nick Kostov and Sean McLain, the series includes never-before-seen interviews and footage with many of the key players of Ghosn’s microcosm, shedding light on the personal and professional dimensions that shaped his controversial journey. Produced by Academy Award winner James Gay-Rees (Amy) and Emmy Award winner Paul Martin (Drive to Survive) and directed by DuPont and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker James Jones (Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes), Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn is filled with unexpected twists and turns as the story can serve as both a cautionary tale and a source of inspiration, offering valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and the consequences of one’s choices, while also prompting viewers to contemplate the fine line between ambition, greed and “hubris” — as the first episode of the show is aptly called.
