Bluestone Entertainment (Slingshot) and Walden Media (Ray, Everest, Finch) announced today that Academy Award© Winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator), Academy Award© Winner Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), and Academy Award© Nominee Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals, Revolutionary Road) will star in Nuremberg, a thrilling historical drama set in post-war Germany. Nuremberg will mark the sophomore directorial effort from James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, Truth), who also penned the script which is based on the book “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist” by Jack El-Hai. Bluestone Entertainment, Walden Media, and Széchenyi Funds acquired the rights to El-Hai’s book and Vanderbilit’s script, and are financing the film.
Richard Saperstein, William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, Brad Fischer, Istvan Major, and Paul Neinstein are producing, along with production company Filmsquad. Walden’s Frank Smith, Ben Tappan, and Cher Hawrysh will serve as Executive Producers, as well as Annie Saperstein, Brooke Saperstein, Beau Turpin, Nikolett Barabas and Béla Hajnal. The project was previously in development at Vanderbilt, Sherak, and Fischer’s Mythology Entertainment.
With production commencing February 2024 in Hungary, the film will center on American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Malek), who is tasked with determining whether Nazi prisoners are fit to stand trial for their war crimes, and finds himself in a complex battle of wits with Hermann Göring (Crowe), Hitler’s right-hand man. Shannon will play Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, the chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials.
Director James Vanderbilt said, “What an absolute honor it is to be working with such a tremendously talented group of actors. Our partners at Bluestone and Walden have been incredibly supportive, and I cannot wait to bring this amazing true story to the screen.”
“It’s a privilege to collaborate with this formidable group of artists,” said Richard Saperstein, CEO of Bluestone Entertainment. “I am excited and humbled by the chance to be part of such important and relevant storytelling.”
“Walden is thrilled to help bring James Vanderbilt’s vision to the screen in the courageous effort to pursue justice in the aftermath of World War II,” said Ben Tappan, President of Production at Walden. “This astounding moment in history, as brought to life with our extraordinary cast, is a riveting story that is sure to intrigue and resonate with audiences today.”
Academy Award© Nominee Dariusz Wolski (Napoleon, The Martian) will serve as Director of Photography, Academy Award© Nominee Eve Stewart (The King’s Speech, Les Miserables) will be the Production Designer, and Emmy Award® Winner John Papsidera (“Yellowstone,” Oppenheimer) is casting.
Crowe is a three-time Academy Award© Nominee, having won the coveted “Best Actor” prize for the epic historical film Gladiator. Known for his commanding on-screen presence, Crowe has also starred in acclaimed films such as A Beautiful Mind, Les Misérables, The Insider and L.A. Confidential. His recent work includes The Pope’s Exorcist and Thor: Love and Thunder, and upcoming films Kraven The Hunter, Land of Bad and Sleeping Dogs.
Malek solidified his place as one of the industry’s leading talents with his performance as Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which earned him an Academy Award©, SAG and Golden Globe for best actor. He also won an Emmy Award® for his work in the technological thriller series “Mr. Robot,” and was recently seen in Christopher Nolan’s historical epic Oppenheimer. Up next for Malek is espionage thriller The Amateur alongside Emmy Award® Winner Rachel Brosnahan, which he is also producing.
Two-time Academy Award© Nominee Shannon is best known for his work on Nocturnal Animals, Revolutionary Road, and “Boardwalk Empire,” having also recently received an Emmy nomination for his titular performance in Showtime’s “George & Tammy” with Jessica Chastain. Earlier this year, the Tribeca Film Festival premiered Shannon’s directorial debut, Eric LaRue, which received rave reviews. He will soon be seen in The Bikeriders, his eighth re-team with Jeff Nichols; and Josh Oppenheimer’s The End.
Vanderbilt broke out on the film scene writing and producing Zodiac, David Fincher’s true-crime thriller based on the story of the Zodiac Killer, before making his directorial debut with newsroom drama Truth starring Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Dennis Quaid, and Elisabeth Moss. Nuremberg will mark Vanderbilt’s second directorial effort, having recently written and produced the new generation of Scream films, as well as the Murder Mystery movies with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Other credits include Netflix streaming hit “The Night Agent,” cult favorite horror Ready or Not, and cyberpunk series “Altered Carbon.”
Crowe is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher, LLP (GGSSC). Malek is represented by William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Sloane, Offer Weber and Dern, and the Lede Company. Shannon is represented by CAA, Range Media Partners, Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman, and Narrative PR. Vanderbilt is represented by William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment.
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