Russell Crowe, Rami Malek & Michael Shannon Set For James Vanderbilt’s Historical Drama ‘Nuremberg’

Matt Grobar
·3 min read
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Russell Crowe (Gladiator), Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals) are set to topline Nuremberg, a historical drama set in post-war Germany that marks the latest directorial outing for veteran writer-producer James Vanderbilt (Zodiac), on the heels of the Cate Blanchett-Robert Redford starrer Truth.

Hailing from Bluestone Entertainment (Slingshot) and Walden Media (Ray, Everest), the film based on Jack El Hai’s book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist is also written by Vanderbilt. Heading into production in Hungary in February, it tells the story of 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.

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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, 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, along with 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.

Said Vanderbilt in a statement on the new project, “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.”

Remarked Bluestone Entertainment CEO Richard Saperstein, “It’s a privilege to collaborate with this formidable group of artists. 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,” added the company’s President of Production, Ben Tappan. “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.”

Most recently seen in Thor: Love and Thunder and Sony’s supernatural horror The Pope’s Exorcist, Crowe will next star in Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter, action thriller Land of Bad and the crime thriller Sleeping Dogs with Karen Gillan.

Part of the cast of Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed historical epic Oppenheimer, Malek stars opposite Rachel Brosnahan in 20th Century Studios’ forthcoming espionage thriller The Amateur, which he’s also producing.

Shannon is coming off of an Emmy nomination for his turn opposite Jessica Chastain in Showtime’s George & Tammy and earlier this year took his directorial debut, Eric LaRue, to the Tribeca Festival. Upcoming projects for him include The Bikeriders, which marks his eighth reteam with filmmaker Jeff Nichols, and Josh Oppenheimer’s The End.

Crowe is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; Malek by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Sloane, Offer Weber & Dern; Shannon by CAA, Range Media Partners, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes; and Vanderbilt by WME.

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