Anthony Hopkins to Play Sir Nicholas Winton in New Holocaust Film

The life of Sir Nicholas Winton, the Kindertransport hero who oversaw the rescue of hundreds of Jewish children, is set to be dramatized in a new Holocaust biopic.

The story of humanitarian Nicholas George Winton, who helped save hundreds of children from the Nazis before World War Two, is the subject of a brand new TV drama.

One Life stars Sir Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn as the real-life hero, both of whom will portray the role of Winton throughout different stages of his life. If you’re hoping to find out more about this poignant new series, here’s everything you need to know.

For close to half a century, Sir Nicholas did not discuss his role in bringing close to 700 mainly Jewish children to England and saving them from near-certain death in Nazi occupied-Czechoslovakia just prior to the Second World War.

The part the former stockbroker played in rescuing hundreds of children was finally made public when his wife Grete discovered a scrapbook of photos and documents in their attic.

One Life will be directed by Aisling Walsh, best known for her work on 2016’s Maudie, and will be one of Hopkins’ first major roles since his star turn in Netflix’s The Two Popes. Elsewhere, co-star Flynn is also gearing up to portray music legend David Bowie in the upcoming biopic Stardust, which tells the story of the “Let’s Dance” singer’s first-ever U.S. tour.

Producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman told Deadline: “Despite never wanting any attention for his altruistic act, Nicky’s story and the story of those he saved must be told.

“To be a part of sharing this moment in history with the world is an extraordinary privilege. Anthony and Johnny are without a doubt the right people to bring [this] beautifully crafted screenplay about this amazing man to life.”

Sir Nicholas, who was knighted in 2003, died in Maidenhead in 2015 aged 106.

At this year’s TIFF, Hopkins is receiving the TIFF Tribute Actor Award. Flynn recently starred in Autumn de Wilde’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma” alongside Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Nighy and Josh O’Connor. He has been cast as Dickie Greenleaf in Showtime’s new TV series “Ripley.”