HBO has released the official trailer for The Survivor movie, premiering on HBO and streaming on HBO Max on Wednesday, April 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT in honor of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).
Based on the incredible true story of Harry Haft, The Survivor movie reunites director Barry Levinson with award-winning actor Ben Foster. The film is an examination of one man’s journey from unspeakable horrors to freedom, forgiveness, and redemption.
Foster stars in the title role as Haft, who, after being sent to Auschwitz, survives not only the unspeakable horrors of the camp but the gladiatorial boxing spectacle he is forced to perform with his fellow prisoners for the amusement of his captors.
Unbeknownst to those who try to destroy him, Haft is driven by the most important reason any man has to survive: a quest to reunite with the woman he loves.
After a daring escape, he makes his way to New York, where he succeeds in using his boxing skills to establish a name for himself in the hopes of finding his one true love.
His indomitable spirit lands him in the ring with boxing legends like Rocky Marciano as he fights to make sense of his past and reclaim the life that was stolen from him.
Based on the book Harry Haft: Survivor of Auschwitz, Challenger of Rocky Marciano by Alan Haft, the film was directed by Academy Award winner Barry Levinson, whose previous HBO Films (Paterno, The Wizard of Lies, and You Don’t Know Jack) have amassed a combined 21 Emmy nominations; with a script by Justine Juel Gillmer (The 100).
The Survivor reunites Ben Foster (Leave No Trace, Hell or High Water) with director Levinson, who cast him in his first film, Liberty Heights.
The film also stars Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), Billy Magnussen (No Time to Die), Peter Sarsgaard (Jackie), Saro Emirze (Wilsberg), Dar Zuzovsky (Hostages), Danny DeVito (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), and John Leguizamo (Latin History for Morons).
The Survivor is produced by New Mandate Films’ Matti Leshem (The Shallows), BRON Studios’ Aaron L. Gilbert (Bombshell, Monster, The Front Runner), Baltimore Pictures’ Jason Sosnoff (HBO’s Paterno and The Wizard of Lies), and Barry Levinson (Donnie Brasco, Bugsy) and Scott Pardo (Hope & A Little Sugar).
The executive producers are Joel Greenberg, Ben Foster, Danny Devito, Brenda Gilbert, Steven Thibault, Ashley Levinson, Anjay Nagpal, Ron McLeod, Jason Cloth, and Richard McConnell. The film is from New Mandate Films and BRON Studios, in association with Baltimore Pictures, Endeavor Content, USC Shoah Foundation, and Creative Wealth Media.
The film’s production was aided by a team at USC Shoah Foundation, who provided detailed historical consulting in addition to access to testimony of Haft, filmed in 2007 and preserved within USC Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive.
“We are immensely proud to bring The Survivor to the HBO and HBO Max audience,” said Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming. “Barry’s meticulous exploration of this true story of unimaginable choices, perseverance, and redemption coupled with Ben’s transformative performance will captivate viewers and stay with them long after the credits roll.”
“Having done numerous films at HBO, I don’t know of a better home for The Survivor,” said director and producer Barry Levinson.
Producers Matti Leshem and Aaron L. Gilbert said the following about The Survivor movie: “The Survivor is the true story of a man who confronts the ultimate moral dilemma in the face of one of the world’s greatest evils, Nazism. Harry Haft’s journey takes him from the depths of Auschwitz and into the ring with Rocky Marciano as he negotiates his new life and seeks the woman he loves.”
They added: “At a time when hatred based on race and belief is escalating, Harry’s story is a reminder of overcoming adversity against all odds. We were thrilled to launch the film at TIFF and the subsequent tremendous reception we received. We are delighted that the team at HBO shares our passion, and we are looking forward to launching this important story with them.”
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to cover the latest streaming, movie, TV, and game news.