Lena Dunham Syria movie: Is Girls actress making a film about Syrian refugees?

Lena Dunham has gone from relative obscurity to a household name.

She rose to fame as the writer, creator, and star of the HBO series Girls.

From her platform of success, she went on to write Tiny Furniture, for which she won an Independent Spirit Award, and was included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.

With Girls in her rearview mirror, many apologies under her belt for awkwardly phrased, downright insensitive gaffs, and two Golden Globes to her name, Lena Dunham is looking to her next project.

Is Lena Dunham making a movie about Syrian refugees?

For better or worse, yes she is.

Dunham has signed on to adapt the 2017 book A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee’s Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival.

The book is written by Melissa Fleming, the chief spokesperson of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The story is based on the real life of Doaa al-Zamel.

Doaa Al Zamel fled civil war-torn Syria hoping to find asylum in Europe.

She boarded a smugglers boat only to face tragedy again when the vessel wrecked—resulting in the deaths of nearly 500 fellow refugees.

One of those who perished was Al Zamel’s fiancé; Al Zamel was one of only 11 survivors.

Eventually, she resettled in Sweden.

Dunham is writing the script for Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams, who are co-producing the movie.

The A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea author Melissa Fleming took to Twitter to voice her excitement for the project.

She wrote: “I feel very lucky to have the remarkable @lenadunham adapting my book, A Hope More Powerful than the Sea to a screenplay, and the masters, Steven Spielberg & J.J. Abrams making it into a film.”

Dunham’s own confirmation of the project also came via Twitter.

“Very lucky to have this job, to tell this story, to support this truth with these people.” she wrote.

Some users expressed criticism and scepticism of the choosing of Dunham for the role.

Writer Nasri Atallah tweeted in response: “Can I respectfully suggest that if this project happens, you involve as many Syrians and refugees as possible in the making of it?

“You have a huge platform to get stories out, but I think it would be a sign of good faith to include the people whose story you are telling.”

Likewise, author Susanne Samin asked if Dunham was planning to donate her profits to Syrian refugee charities.

Dunham confirmed she would, and would “‘share the receipts’ so to speak.”

How Dunham handles the story remains to be seen, but undoubtedly a keen eye will be focussed on her work.