Daniel Brühl To Direct Felix Kammerer As Nazi Era Tennis Star In Bio-Pic ‘Break’, Reuniting ‘All Quiet On The Western Front’ Team

Daniel Brühl, Felix Kammerer Getty Images

Daniel Brühl is returning to the director’s chair for bio-pic Breath starring Felix Kammerer as real-life German tennis champion Gottfried von Cramm who found himself in the crosshairs of the Nazi regime as his sporting star rose in the 1930s.

The production reunites the team behind German WW1 drama All Quiet On The Western Front, which was nominated in nine categories at the Academy Awards in 2023 and won in four, including Best International Feature Film.

The movie will follow von Cramm’s breathtaking sporting career under the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, as he navigates political and personal complexity and a high-stakes love triangle, which meant he went into the 1937 Davis Cup in Wimbledon playing for his life.

The film is adapted by Hossein Amini from Marshall Jon Fisher’s 2009 book ‘A Terrible Splendor: Three Extraordinary Men, a World Poised for War, and the Greatest Tennis Match Ever Played’. The story will be told in German and English.

“Gottfried’s life offers a thrilling prism to look at the history of Europe on the cusp of war – but more than that, it is the story of a deeply personal moral conflict and a dangerous romance – and the life-and-death stakes of greatest tennis match ever played,” said Simon and Stephen Cornwell at The Ink Factory.

“The combination of Hoss’ mesmerising script, Daniel’s deeply thoughtful directorial eye, and Felix’s raw talent is a heady mix. We are thrilled to be partnering with our old friends Adam Siegel, Marc Platt and Malte Grunert, and to have the opportunity to work with the incomparable Edward Berger.  It’s thrilling to be part of bringing the All Quiet team back together to tell this utterly compelling, hugely relevant story,” they added.

Breath marks German-Spanish acting star Brühl’s second feature directorial credit after the 2021 drama Next Door, a drama exploring the impact of gentrification on contemporary Berlin.

He previously appeared alongside Kammerer in All Quiet On The Western Front, on which he also took an executive producer credit. The pair have also just been on set together in Ron Howard’s upcoming movie Eden.

Brühl has been seen most recently as the titular iconic designer in Disney+ show Becoming Karl Lagerfeld.

“From a contemporary perspective, the extraordinary story of Gottfried von Cramm is one that demands to be told.  Gottfried is a hero for our times.  I’m thrilled – and grateful – to be embarking on this cinematic journey, and to travel it together with my friends Felix Kammerer and Malte Grunert will make the pleasure greater still,” said Brühl who is also a partner at Amusement Park.

Brúhl’s long time collaborator and Amusement Park MD Grunert said von Cramm’s story chimed with the times.

“The story of Gottfried von Cramm is one of personal heroism displayed with unassuming elegance. At a time when the freedom and liberty we enjoy are once again under threat from rising nationalism and far right politics, it feels as timely as ever,” he said.

“Reuniting with Daniel, Felix and Edward together with our friends at The Ink Factory and Marc Platt Productions in order to bring Hossein Amini’s fantastic script to the screen will be a joy. I can’t wait to get started and get on the court as part of this great team.”

Sales on the project will be handled by Fifth Season domestically.  Executive producers are Joe Tsai and Arthur Wang for 127 Wall Productions.