Natalie Gonzalez February 12th, 2026 - 2:48 PM
A project has been greenlit with support from WME Independent & CAA Media Finance for a film about the true story of a famous Jewish director that was forced to create a propaganda film while he was held captive by the Nazi regime during World War II. A friendly and familiar face (and voice) will be portraying the historical figure in this dire production – Broadway star & notable voice of Olaf from Disney’s Frozen, Josh Gad will be starring in Gerron’s Last Film as the late Kurt Gerron.
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Kurt Gerron was born as Kurt Gerson, a successful actor & director in Germany who refused to leave the country during the beginnings of the Holocaust despite blatant persecution and was ultimately arrested, then taken to a concentration camp because of his heritage and religion. During his imprisonment, he was forced by the Nazi party to direct a propaganda film that would lie to the public about the camp he was taken to, portraying it as a luxury resort instead of the torture factory that it truly was. Details and photos of this camp and the task to create the deceiving film can be read here. Considering the tone of this project, Simon Curtis (the film’s director) had the following to say about its purpose:
“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 film maker. It demonstrates how vital the arts are in dark times and its themes are becoming more essential every day.“
The movie has been stated to begin film production around fall of this year with contribution from producers, Pie Films (My Happy Ending & The Bride!) and a script by Ehud Lavski (Once Upon a Time in Palestine). Curtis’ directing range broadens from Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale to My Week With Marilyn.
Despite swapping his lighter roles for one on the heavier side, the actor shines his light on any opportunity – the latest being at the Disneyland theme park where he acted as a caretaker of the popular Haunted Mansion ride, shown in the video below:
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