Johanna Wokalek joins 'Pope Joan'

Actress replaces Franka Potente

By ED MEZA

BERLIN — Johanna Wokalek, who starred alongside Til Schweiger in the 2005 hit comedy “Barfuss” (Barefoot), has replaced Franka Potente in Soenke Wortmann’s upcoming period drama “Pope Joan.”

Potente was set to topline Constantin Film’s bigscreen adaptation of Donna Woolfolk Cross’ 1997 bestseller but dropped out of the production due to a scheduling conflict.

Production on the film, which recounts the ninth-century legend of a woman who disguises herself as a man in order to educate herself and ultimately ascends the papal throne, is set to start in Germany in August.

The long gestating project has hit a number of bumps over the years.

Volker Schloendorff was originally attached to direct but was sacked by Constantin last year just weeks before filming was due to start after making public comments the company deemed unacceptable. Schloendorff had publicly criticized the industry’s practice of simultaneously making features and extended TV versions of big-screen productions, which he said limited the creative freedom of filmmakers. Constantin planned on making a longer TV version of “Pope Joan.”

Pic, which has been in development for eight years, was also postponed last year after actor John Goodman exited the project, moving Constantin to take legal action against the actor.

Schloendorff had been set to shoot the film in 2002 for UFA Filmproduktion and Senator Film, but the project was shelved after Senator filed for bankruptcy, which led to its eventual resurrection at Constantin.

Wokalek, meanwhile, will next be seen in Constantin’s upcoming terrorist drama “Der Baader-Meinhof Komplex.”