Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’s Sam Rockwell sure doesn’t shy away from the controversial roles. Rockwell will be teaming up with Thor: Ragnorok’s Taika Waititi and Scarlett Johansson to play a Nazi captain in Jojo Rabbit.
Johansson is playing Jojo’s mother, while Rockwell will play a Nazi captain who runs a Hitler Youth camp.
The production will tell the story of a young German boy during World War II, who finds out that his mother, to be played by Johansson, is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. Waititi had met with Johansson to talk about the role whilst filming the pilot for What We Do in the Shadows.
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Waititi will star as a comedic version of Hitler in the film. “After being severely hurt by a grenade at Hitler youth camp, a prideful and nationalistic ten-year-old boy discovers that his mother is hiding a fifteen-year-old Jewish girl in their house,” reads Jojo Rabbit’s logline. “The boy’s imaginary friend is a version of Hitler that is far removed from reality, with Waititi describing him as “goofy” and “charming”.
Waititi penned the script and will produce alongside Carthew Neal and Chelsea Winstanley. Once Johansson has been locked in, Waititi will look to cast his young star.
Rockwell won himself a number of accolades, including an Academy Award and Bafta for his supporting role in Three Billboards this year. His next projects include Blue Iguana, The Best of Enemies and Backseat alongside Christian Bale, he will play the role of George W. Bush.
Production is expected to start on Jojo Rabbit this spring.
