- Director: James Vanderbilt (Zodiac writer, Truth director)
- Starring: Russell Crowe (Hermann Göring), Rami Malek (Douglas Kelley), Michael Shannon (Robert H. Jackson)
- Genre: Historical Drama / Psychological Thriller
- Release Date: Worldwide theatrical rollout January 2026 (Select previews late 2025)
1. The Creative Force and Cast
Written and directed by James Vanderbilt, who famously penned the masterpiece Zodiac, the film is adapted from Jack El-Hai’s acclaimed non-fiction book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist. The cast is a powerhouse of Academy Award talent:
- Russell Crowe delivers a chilling, “high-powered” performance as Hermann Göring, Hitler’s charismatic but malevolent second-in-command.
- Rami Malek plays Douglas Kelley, the U.S. Army psychiatrist tasked with determining if the Nazi war criminals are sane enough to stand trial.
- Michael Shannon provides the moral anchor as Chief Prosecutor Robert H. Jackson, fighting to establish a new international standard for justice.
2. Retrospective: The Burden of History
- The Original Context: The Nuremberg Trials (1945–1946) were the first of their kind, prosecuting the Nazi high command for crimes against humanity. Previous films on this subject, like the 1961 classic Judgment at Nuremberg, focused heavily on the courtroom legalities.
- The 2026 Shift: This version shifts the “Reckoning” to a psychological level. It explores the “Silence of the Lambs”-style dynamic between Kelley and Göring. The film asks a terrifying question: Is evil a mental illness, or is it a choice made by sane people?
3. Plot and Impact: The Psychological Duel
Set in the ruins of post-war Germany, the film follows Major Douglas Kelley as he interrogates the 22 top Nazi leaders.
- The Mind Games: Göring (Crowe) is not depicted as a cartoon villain but as a manipulative, highly intelligent strategist who attempts to “seduce” Kelley into seeing him as a misunderstood patriot.
- The Evidence: In a pivotal and harrowing sequence, the film recreates the moment real concentration camp footage was first shown in court as evidence—a scene designed to ground the psychological thriller in the staggering reality of the Holocaust.
- The Downfall: The 2026 film documents Kelley’s own mental decline as he becomes obsessed with understanding Göring’s psyche, eventually realizing that the “evil” he is looking for isn’t a medical condition, but a lack of human empathy.
Final Verdict
Nuremberg (2026) is a masterclass in tension. James Vanderbilt avoids the trap of making a “dry” history lesson, instead delivering a claustrophobic, intense thriller that feels incredibly relevant today. With Russell Crowe’s career-best performance in years and Rami Malek’s haunting portrayal of a man losing himself to his work, this film is an early frontrunner for the 2026 awards season.
