New WW2 movie primarily based on wonderful true survival story will get trailer and launch date | Films | Entertainment | EUROtoday

There have been many harrowing movies made concerning the horrors of the Holocaust over time, from Schindler’s List to The Zone of Interest.

And now a brand new World War 2 movie primarily based on the true lifetime of survivor Herbert Heller, who saved his escape from Auschwitz secret for 60 years, is coming to cinemas subsequent month.

The Optimist stars Stephen Lang (Avatar), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade) and Luke Dave Bloom (Where the Crawdads Sing).

The trailer and launch date announcement shared: “From director and writer Finn Taylor, the film follows Herbert (Lang), now a beloved toy store owner in Northern California, in a heartrending, Northern Californian-set story. He has long concealed his wartime memories from even his own family. When he forms an unexpected friendship with a troubled teenager, Abbey (Fisher), their bond becomes a catalyst for him to finally break his silence, illustrating the powerful ways human connection can foster healing, understanding, and renewal across generations. The narrative captures the unbreakable human spirit, offering hope in dark times and unexpected places.”

It added: “THE OPTIMIST is the culmination of a ten-year journey by producer Jeanine Thomas, who set out to fulfill a promise to Herbert that his story, and his legacy of hope, would be shared with the world. In honor of that mission, the film will be donating a portion of its profits to Kavod, a Memphis-based organization founded in 2015 that helps Holocaust survivors in the U.S. live the remainder of their lives with comfort and dignity.”

The Optimist is launched in US theatres on March 11, 2026 and a UK launch date is TBC.