Logan Lerman and Joey King star in the Hulu series, We Were The Lucky Ones, based on the book of the same name by Georgia Hunter. The series and book explore the dramatized version of how siblings Addy and Halina, the former of whom is Hunter’s grandfather, survived the Holocaust. While promoting the series on the red carpet of its premiere at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, Lerman shared that the story drew him because it was a ‘real’ Holocaust story.
Lerman also shared that he felt other fictional movies on the subject were exploitative and wrong. However, Lerman starred in the Prime Video series, Hunters, a conspiracy drama that tells the fictional story of a group of real Nazi hunters.
Logan Lerman Contradicts Himself In His Opinion On Holocaust-Based Projects
Logan Lerman‘s latest Hulu series, We Were The Lucky Ones, tells the real-life story of two Polish Jewish siblings who try to bring their family together after the Second World War. The series received a big screen premiere in Los Angeles on March 21st. The stars of the series, Lerman and Joey King, attended the premiere alongside the author of the book Georgia Hunter.
Lerman opened up about the series to Variety on the red carpet and shared the significance of telling Addy and Halina’s story. The Percy Jackson actor shared that the film was important to him because it was a true story. He revealed that he had received scripts that dealt with the Holocaust in the past, but they did not appeal to him as they were fiction. Lerman felt the fictional stories were exploitative and wrong. Lerman shared with Variety:
“It’s important because it’s true. It’s a true story. You know, I’ve gotten submitted scripts and projects in the past that deal with a similar subject matter, but it’s fiction and it always felt wrong and felt exploitative. The truth matters.”
However, Lerman’s previous hit TV show, Hunters, co-starring Al Pacino, told a fictional tale based on the events that followed World War II. The Fury actor played Jonah Heidelbaum for two seasons of the show, a mathematics genius who joins the Nazi hunters. The film even introduced a secret Fourth Reich rising in the United States, headed by Adolf Hitler who faked his death after the World War.
Lerman’s statement about the Holocaust-based projects being exploitative stands in direct conflict with his involvement in Hunters. The Noah actor may have an explanation for why he made such a statement, especially since his previous TV project was Hunters. It is entirely possible that the actor may not have considered the Prime Video series as a Holocaust-based project, but rather just a conspiracy film.
Logan Lerman Says We Were The Lucky Ones Is Worthy Of Being Made For Screen
For Logan Lerman, the true story of how the Holocaust survivors reunited with families after the war was something that he hadn’t seen in film or TV. He shared with Variety that the perspectives from this period of history were necessary to explore. Lerman shared that Addy seeking refusal in any country that let him in was a poignant tale, that was worth being told on the screen. Lerman shared:
“But on top of that, these are stories I haven’t seen told before in film and television. Perspectives on this period of history that I thought were important and necessary to explore. For instance, my character Addy, he’s a refugee just trying to seek refuge in any country that will let him in. I haven’t seen a movie or show about that. And I find that worthy of being told, being made, and I’m excited for people to see it.”
Joey King also shared her experience playing Halina in the series. She told Variety that it was an honor to have played such a headstrong personality in the series. King described her character to the news outlet as someone who had “humor” and “light”, and who was “strong in the face of darkness.” King revealed being in awe of her bravery.
We Were The Lucky Ones began its worldwide premiere on Hulu on March 28. Hunters is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
