Rachel Weisz to Play Deborah Lipstadt in Holocaust Movie ‘Denial’

Image by Getty Images

By Maia Efrem November 6, 2015

British actress Rachel Weisz has been tapped to play Deborah E. Lipstadt in “Denial,” a biopic based on Lipstadt’s courtroom drama with David Irving, who sued her for libel when she accused him of being a Holocaust denier.

Adapted for screen from Lipstadt’s book, the North American rights to the movie were bought by Bleecker Street distribution company. Replacing Hillary Swank as the lead, Weisz will star opposite Tom Wilkinson and Timothy Spall, with Mick Jackson taking the reins as director.

Deborah Lipstadt, Biden's antisemitism envoy

Deborah L. Lipstadt Image by Getty Images

“Mick Jackson’s film will recount this incredible, unbelievable story of two people pitted against each other in a battle over truth, history and integrity,” Bleeker Street CEO Andrew Karpen said in a statement. “With David Hare’s exhilarating script combined with Rachel Weisz and Tom Wilkinson leading the cast, I’m so proud to be bringing this film to audiences next year.”

Maia Efrem is the former research editor and assistant to the editor and was also responsible for the Forward’s annual Salary Survey. Previously she served as the editor of Blognik Beat, a blog written by students who emigrated from or have ties to the Former Soviet Union. Maia is a graduate of Hunter College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.