New WW2 film based on amazing true survival story gets trailer and release date | Films | Entertainment

There have been many harrowing films made about the horrors of the Holocaust over the years, from Schindler’s List to The Zone of Interest.

And now a new World War 2 film based on the true life of survivor Herbert Heller, who kept his escape from Auschwitz secret for 60 years, is coming to cinemas next month.

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

The trailer and release 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 released in US theatres on March 11, 2026 and a UK release date is TBC.