Grammy winner and Tony nominee Josh Gad (“Murder on the Orient Express,” “Frozen”) is set to star in “Gerron’s Last Film” for BAFTA and Emmy nominated director Simon Curtis (“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” “Woman in Gold”) and inspired by the true story of Kurt Gerron.
CAA Media Finance and WME independent represent domestic rights to the project, while Rocket Science will handle international sales and is introducing it at the European Film Market. “Gerron’s Last Film” will shoot in Q3 2026.
Gerron was one of the most famous Jewish actors and directors in pre-Nazi Germany (and the original performer of the song “Mack the Knife” from Brecht’s Threepenny Opera). But unlike his friends Fritz Lang and Marlene Dietrich, he refused to leave Germany and was ultimately sent to Theresienstadt (Terezin) Ghetto, along with many other cultural icons of his time. When Gerron arrived, the camp commander Karl Rahm (stating that he was a huge fan of his work) ordered him to direct a propaganda film about the camp, to show the “luxurious” conditions to the world. With no choice in the matter, Gerron embarked on what would be his last film, trying to give his fellow prisoners fleeting moments of humanity in the process.
“This is a film that will be universally spoken about and responded to,” said Gad, who recently wrapped production on “Spaceballs 2” and lent his voice to Disney’s smash-hit “Zootopia 2.”
“These themes are more relevant today than they have been in decades,” he added. “I got into this industry to make movies that are important, that can create conversations and I strongly know in my heart that this is one of those films. It’s imperative that we use the power we have as artists to tell stories that should be seen as warnings, that strike up conversations and this is an important story that ticks off everything on that checklist.”
“Gerron’s Last Film” will be produced by Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman Keren of Pie Films (Academy Award nominee “The Lost Daughter,” “The Kindergarten Teacher,” upcoming “The Bride!”) through their newly launched U.K. office, from a script by Ehud Lavski (“Gunpowder Milkshake”) and Alon Gur Arye (“Mossad”). Adam Recht (“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” “My Week with Marilyn”) will serve as editor and Ross Emery (“The Giver,” “The Wolverine”) as director of photography.
“The outstanding script has attracted the perfect leading man in Josh Gad,” said Curtis. “I feel very passionately about telling Kurt Gerron’s remarkable story which offers so many exciting creative opportunities to a film maker. It demonstrates how vital the arts are in dark times and its themes are becoming more essential every day.”
Kleinhendler and Handelsman Keren added: “This film has been a passion project for us since the moment we read Ehud and Alon’s incredible script. We feel we have found the ideal director in Simon, who always creates emotionally powerful humanistic collective cinematic experiences, we are so grateful he is as passionate as we are about telling this story. Kurt Gerron was a master of so many talents – he was a stage performer, singer, actor and director. He was larger than life, and the infinitely talented Josh Gad is the perfect person to embody this complex nuanced role.”
Gad is represented by CAA and Range Media Partners. Curtis is represented by Independent Talent Group, UTA and Anonymous Content, Pie Films are represented by WME and Hannah Leader.
English (US) ·