Andy Serkis To Play Himmler Opposite Woody Harrelson In ‘The Man With The Miraculous Hands’; SND Boards For Cannes Market Launch

Andy Serkis has joined of the cast of Oren Moverman’s WW2 psychological thriller The Man with the Miraculous Hands in the role of leading Nazi Heinrich Himmler opposite Woody Harrelson, as France’s SND boards the project for a Cannes market launch.

As well as international sales rights, Paris-based film company SND has also taken distribution rights in France and will co-produce.

Philippe Rousselet at Vendôme Films and Eric Jehelmann at Jerico Films lead produce. The companies are subsidiaries of Paris-based Vendôme Group, Rousselet’s Oscar-winning banner (CODA) with Fabrice Gianfermi, who takes an executive producer credit with Jeremy Plager.

Moverman wrote and will direct the 1939-set movie taking its cue from the true story of Felix Kersten (Harrelson), a renowned, apolitical medical masseuse, who became the personal doctor of the chronically ill Heinrich Himmler (Serkis), Hitler’s second-in-command who was the head of the SS and is regarded as the chief architect of the Holocaust.

As war rages all over Europe, and Himmler’s health declines while his authority grows, Kersten finds himself in a unique position to influence decision making on the highest level inside the Third Reich. Playing a very dangerous game that may cost him his life at every turn, and using his medical skills as a weapon, the doctor manages to influence Himmler, turn him against Hitler, and, in turn, save many thousands of lives.

“We have been working with Oren for some time on developing this project and his script is just spectacular.  His long-established relationship with Woody is the foundation and we are looking forward to bringing this phenomenal story to life with Andy and our close collaborators at SND,” said Rousselet.

Vendôme and SND have a long working history, having previously collaborated on Two is a Family, What Happened to Monday? for the US, as well as La Aries family on which Vendôme’s Academy Award-winning film CODA was based.

“We are thrilled to reunite with Vendôme for this special film. We trust their expertise in working with the best talent and developing stories with great production value which are universal,” said said SND Director of International Distribution Ramy Nahas.

“We loved the script and the incredible true story on which it’s based – and we have no doubt Vendôme, actors Woody Harrelson and Andy Serkis as well as Academy Award nominee Oren Moveman will bring to life a stunning, untold WWII story with mass appeal.

Principal photography is set to commence this fall.

Award-winning actor Serkis (the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Planet Of The Apes) is currently in production as director and producer of an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm and has also recently been announced as the director and star of two new LOTR films at Warner — working titled Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

Serkis is represented by CAA and Principal Entertainment.