Rami Malek Admitted to Working Hard to Get a Role in Historical Drama Nuremberg

by

While Rami Malek famously won an Oscar for playing Freddie Mercury in the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody, his latest project is quite different. He stars as Douglas Kelly in a new movie and is discussing how he got the part.

The film Nuremberg premiered in theaters on November 7th. Rami Malek recently spoke with Page Six about the movie, which also stars Russell Crowe, and revealed how determined he was to land the part. He explained that he actively pursued the role and worked hard to convince the filmmakers he was the right choice, acknowledging that many other actors were also considered.

Malek explained he felt a strong passion for the role, similar to how he felt when he was first starting out as an actor. He described the joy he felt even with small jobs early in his career, and said rediscovering that feeling confirmed for him how special and meaningful acting can be, especially when working on a powerful story like this one.

I recently watched a fascinating film based on Jack El-Hai’s book, The Nazi and the Psychiatrist. It centers around the story of Douglas Kelley, played by Rami Malek, a psychiatrist tasked with evaluating Hermann Göring – brilliantly portrayed by Russell Crowe – to see if he was mentally fit to stand trial at Nuremberg. Of course, Göring was ultimately found guilty of everything, including crimes against humanity, and sentenced to hang. However, he actually committed suicide just before his execution, using a cyanide capsule.

Malek admitted he wasn’t an expert on the historical topic before he was cast. He said his knowledge was about the same as anyone who had studied history, but he was quickly captivated by the story after reading the book the movie was based on. He felt it had the potential to be a really compelling film.

The Movie Is Dividing Fans and Critics

The new film is sparking mixed reactions from both critics and fans. While critics give it a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences are much more enthusiastic, giving it a 98% score. The review site has collected nearly 100 reviews from critics and over 100 from audience members. According to The Daily Beast, the film, though made with good intentions, feels overly polished and Hollywood-ized despite being based on a true story.

Reviews for the film Nuremberg are sharply divided. Asynchronous Media criticized it, saying it squandered Russell Crowe’s strong performance and intriguing ideas about the origins of the Nuremberg trials in favor of superficial humor and a weak connection to current politics. In contrast, Screen Zealots praised the film as a remarkably smart depiction of a pivotal moment in legal history.

I’ve been checking out what audiences are saying about Nuremberg, and the response is overwhelmingly positive. One viewer, ecmartinson, specifically praised Rami Malek’s performance as Douglas Kelley, calling him excellent. Another, inna k, highlighted the film as a fantastic historical account of the Nuremberg trials, and appreciated that it delivers a valuable history lesson often missing from school curriculums. It seems like a really compelling and informative watch!

The movie Nuremberg is directed and written by James Vanderbilt, and features a cast including Rami Malek, Jovan Adepo, John Slattery, Mark O’Brien, Colin Hanks, Wrenn Schmidt, Lydia Peckham, Richard E. Grant, and Michael Shannon. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and was well-received by audiences.

Nuremberg is currently playing in movie theaters.

Read More

2025-11-08 20:06