Jojo Johansson

Scarlett Johansson to portray German mom who hides a Jewish girl from Nazis

Production of 'Jojo Rabbit,' which centers on young boy who finds out about his mother’s heroism, set to start later this spring

Scarlett Johansson attends the American Museum Of Natural History's 2017 Museum Gala at American Museum of Natural History on November 30, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images, via JTA)

Scarlett Johansson is on board to star in a film in which she would portray a German mother hiding a Jewish girl in her home from the Nazis.

“Jojo Rabbit” centers on a young German boy who finds out about his mother’s heroism, Variety reported Thursday on the Fox Searchlight film.

The character of the son still needs to be cast. Production is expected to start this spring, Variety reported.

In Europe, the issue of rescue of Jews by non-Jews during the Holocaust is controversial. In Eastern Europe especially, government-led projects meant to highlight the actions of relatively few local rescuers has been criticized as designed to prevent an open discussion about the actions of countless thousands who collaborated with the German Nazis in the wholesale murder of Jews.

Johansson of late has been focused on action and comedy movies, including last year’s “Ghost in the Shell” and the comedy “Rough Night.”

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