As Nuremberg gears up for its release in theatres on November 7, Oscar-winner Rami Malek opens up about the intensity of bringing the historic courtroom drama to life alongside Russell Crowe. In a recent interview, Malek revealed how their on-set chemistry pushed both actors to new creative heights.
Speaking about working with Russell Crowe, Malek said, “I think it’s Russell at the absolute top of his game. Walking in on day one, I didn’t know what to expect, and he was very, very gracious. After the first take, he told me… you’re bringing more to this role than I had expected. And we just kept challenging each other. We were in such close quarters, these cells… we wanted this kind of suffocating atmosphere. And I go face-to-face with him, and at moments,
he’s got my heart pounding… I can see his cheek trembling a little bit. I don’t know if it’s acting or if it’s real, but we really elevated each other’s game because of the importance of the subject matter.”
Nuremberg is a 2025 American historical drama film written, co-produced, and directed by James Vanderbilt. The film is based on Jack El-Hai’s 2013 book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist. Set in the aftermath of World War II, it follows psychiatrist Douglas Kelley, played by Rami Malek, who is tasked with determining whether Nazi leader Hermann Göring, portrayed by Russell Crowe, is mentally fit to stand trial at the Nuremberg trials. The film also stars Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Mark O’Brien, Colin Hanks, Wrenn Schmidt, Lydia Peckham, Richard E. Grant, and Michael Shannon in supporting roles.
Nuremberg had its world premiere in the Gala Presentations section at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2025, where it received a four-minute standing ovation — one of the longest in the festival’s history. Following its festival debut, the film is set for a theatrical release in the United States and Canada by Sony Pictures Classics on November 7, 2025.
The story delves into the tense and morally complex setting of the Nuremberg trials, where Dr. Kelley interviews key Nazi officials to assess their psychological state. His sessions with Göring evolve into a gripping “battle of wits,” as he attempts to unravel the mind of one of Adolf Hitler’s closest allies and confronts the chilling normalcy of evil.
The ensemble cast features Rami Malek as Douglas Kelley, Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring, Leo Woodall as Sgt. Howie Triest, John Slattery as Burton C. Andrus, Mark O’Brien as John Amen, Colin Hanks as Gustave Gilbert, Wrenn Schmidt as Elsie Douglas, Lydia Peckham as Lila, Michael Shannon as Robert H. Jackson, Richard E. Grant as David Maxwell Fyfe, and Lotte Verbeek as Emmy Göring, among several others.
Production on Nuremberg began in Budapest, Hungary, in February 2024 and concluded by May the same year. The project was first announced in December 2023, with Vanderbilt confirmed as writer-director and Malek, Crowe, and Shannon attached to star. Additional casting, including Richard E. Grant, Leo Woodall, John Slattery, and Colin Hanks, was revealed in early 2024.
In June 2025, Sony Pictures Classics acquired the film’s North American and worldwide airline rights and confirmed its U.S. release for November 7, 2025. A special early screening featuring a Q&A session with James Vanderbilt and Russell Crowe took place on October 27, 2025, ahead of the film’s wide theatrical release.
