Daniel Brühl (Rush) has signed on to star opposite Jessica Chastain (Crimson Peak) in The Zookeeper’s Wife. Brühlwill play Hitler’s chief zoologist, Lutz Heck, who took over Antonina and Jan Zabinski’s (Chastain and Johan Heldenbergh from Through the Air) zoo in Poland.

Set in 1939 Warsaw, on the eve of the city’s Ghetto’s creation, the movie follows Heck’s relationship with the Zabinski’s including his falling in love with, and terrorizing Antonina. The Zabinskis ended up saving hundreds of people. The film is based on a best-selling novel by Diane Ackerman, with Angela Workman (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan) writing the script and Niki Caro (McFarland, USA) directing.

For Brühl, this is the latest prestige role in his growing American filmography. Since he was in Inglourious Basterds – in which he also played a Nazi – his work has included playing F1 driver Niki Lauda in Rush, and parts in The Fifth Estate, A Most Wanted Man, and Woman in Gold. He’s also set to play Baron Zemo in Captain America: Civil War. In October, you’ll be able to see him with Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) in Burnt.

The Zookeeper’s Wife is currently set to be released in 2016.