Everyone has to grow up eventually, even if you’re Haley Joel Osment. The 20-year-old’s boyish looks certainly won’t help him make the transition from child star to young actor, but taking on more mature roles might. According to MTV, Osment will play a Hitler Youth in the film Truth & Treason.
Osment will play Helmuth Hübener; a loyal Hitler Youth who listens to a secret BBC broadcast denouncing Hitler’s war effort. These broadcasts fuel the notion that Hitler may not be the savior Helmuth originally thought him to be, but it isn’t until one of his Jewish friends is sent to a concentration camp that he decides he must take action. Osment explains his character looks to change things “not with guns but words.” Helmuth distributes fliers with several slogans including “Hitler is a murderer” and “Hitler is the guilty one.” It takes the Gestapo nearly a year to apprehend Helmuth for his actions, which are considered high treason. After being dragged before the Blood Tribunal, Helmuth would become the youngest resistance fighter to be sentenced to death by guillotine.
At present, preliminary footage has been shot and a documentary-style trailer has been completed. Osment explains they hope to finish shooting in the new year. He explained, “we’ve just got to get all our ducks in a row. We’re still plugging along and it’s a fantastic story, and really timely considering the political issues that it encapsulates. I’ll be excited when it gets off the ground.”
I can understand why he’ll be excited to see this project moving along. This may be just the ticket he needs to establish himself as a serious actor. With such a compelling story to work with he really has the chance to wow audiences. But then again, such an opportunity can also mean room for failure. We’ll just have to wait and see as the film develops. My hopes are high.
