Josh Gad Cast as Lead in WWII Biopic “Gerron’s Last Film,” Directed by Simon Curtis

Josh Gad to Star in Holocaust Drama “Gerron’s Last Film” Directed by Simon Curtis

Grammy winner and Tony nominee Josh Gad is set to star in “Gerron’s Last Film,” a historical drama directed by BAFTA and Emmy nominated filmmaker Simon Curtis. The film, which will begin shooting in the third quarter of 2026, tells the powerful true story of Kurt Gerron, a prominent Jewish actor and director in pre-Nazi Germany.

CAA Media Finance and WME Independent are handling domestic distribution rights, while Rocket Science will manage international sales, with the project being introduced to potential buyers at the European Film Market.

Gerron was among Germany’s most celebrated entertainment figures before the rise of Nazism. He was notably the original performer of the now-iconic song “Mack the Knife” from Bertolt Brecht’s “Threepenny Opera.” Unlike contemporaries such as Fritz Lang and Marlene Dietrich who fled Germany during Hitler’s rise to power, Gerron chose to remain and was eventually imprisoned in the Theresienstadt (Terezin) Ghetto alongside many other cultural figures of the era.

In a cruel twist, the camp commander Karl Rahm, claiming to be an admirer of Gerron’s work, forced him to direct a propaganda film portraying the concentration camp as a comfortable, humane environment. With no real choice, Gerron undertook what would become his final film project, attempting to provide his fellow prisoners brief moments of dignity during the process.

“This is a film that will be universally spoken about and responded to,” said Gad, who recently completed work on “Spaceballs 2” and voiced a character in Disney’s successful “Zootopia 2.”

Gad emphasized the contemporary relevance of the project, stating, “These themes are more relevant today than they have been in decades. 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.”

The film will be produced by Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman Keren through their production company Pie Films, known for the Academy Award-nominated “The Lost Daughter” and “The Kindergarten Teacher.” The screenplay comes from Ehud Lavski (“Gunpowder Milkshake”) and Alon Gur Arye (“Mossad”). The technical team includes editor Adam Recht (“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” “My Week with Marilyn”) and cinematographer Ross Emery (“The Giver,” “The Wolverine”).

Director Simon Curtis, whose credits include “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” and “Woman in Gold,” expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “The outstanding script has attracted the perfect leading man in Josh Gad. I feel very passionately about telling Kurt Gerron’s remarkable story which offers so many exciting creative opportunities to a filmmaker. It demonstrates how vital the arts are in dark times and its themes are becoming more essential every day.”

The producers Kleinhendler and Handelsman Keren described the film as a passion project, stating: “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. 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.”

The project comes at a time when Holocaust stories continue to resonate strongly with audiences and critics alike, particularly as concerns about rising antisemitism have returned to global discourse. Films exploring this historical period often serve as important reminders of the consequences of unchecked hatred and the resilience of artistic expression under the most extreme circumstances.

Representation for the project includes CAA and Range Media Partners for Gad, Independent Talent Group, UTA and Anonymous Content for Curtis, and WME and Hannah Leader for Pie Films.