Acclaimed Israeli filmmaker Avi Nesher will direct an adaptation of the bestselling book 'Sons and Soldiers' for Jagman Productions. Producer Josh Green has acquired the rights to Bruce Henderson's work, which chronicles the Ritchie Boys' contributions during World War II. The project highlights a lesser-known chapter of history involving Jewish refugees who became key intelligence assets for the Allies.
Jagman Productions and producer Josh Green have acquired the rights to adapt Bruce Henderson’s “Sons and Soldiers.” Avi Nesher, known for directing “Image of Victory,” which earned 15 Israeli Academy Award nominations, is set to helm the film. His other credits include “The Other Story,” “Past Life,” “The Matchmaker,” and the upcoming “Our Loves,” scheduled to premiere in 2026. Green is represented by Greg Pedicin at Untitled Entertainment, while Nesher is represented by Gersh. (98 words so far, continuing for detail. Actual count at end.)The book recounts the journeys of young German-born Jewish refugees who fled Nazi-occupied Europe in the 1930s and resettled in America. Recruited by the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor, they trained as interrogators and translators at Camp Ritchie before returning to Europe at great risk to aid the Allies and search for family. A postwar U.S. Army report noted that nearly 60 percent of credible intelligence from Europe came from the Ritchie Boys.“The book exposes a largely forgotten chapter of WWII history: how Jewish and other refugees who escaped Nazi tyranny became some of the most effective intelligence assets for the Allies,” Green said, emphasizing the personal stories amid the war's broader events.“In a time of rising antisemitism, this story feels urgently necessary,” Nesher stated. He aims for the film to match the impact of “Saving Private Ryan” by showcasing warfare through language, psychology, and identity.