Scarlett Johansson is in negotiations to star in “Jojo Rabbit,” a high-concept comedy about a boy in Nazi Germany who crafts a goofy and charming Adolf Hitler as his imaginary friend and father figure.
Set up at Fox Searchlight, the film will be directed by and costar Taika Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok”), TheWrap exclusively reported.
Johansson is in talks for the role of mother to young Jojo, whose son dreams of ascending the ranks of the Hitler Youth program. When he’s injured in a training accident, he learns his mom has given refuge to a teenage Jewish girl.
Waititi will play the imaginary Hitler. The film won’t include a sympathetic depiction of the actual dictator, the director told TheWrap.
“It’s my version of … a lonely boy’s best version of his hero, which is really his dad,” Waititi said.
“Jojo,” which is eyeing a late May production start, is poised to be one of the first Fox Searchlight releases under new owner Disney.
Johansson’s attachment was first reported by Variety.