After his 2019 debut feature Days of the Bagnold Summer, Simon Bird is donning the director's hat again with a comedy drama set in the Second World War period. Titled Pretend I’m Not Here, the film is all set to star Matthew Broderick, Martin Freeman, and Sally Hawkins in the lead roles. In the official synopsis, the makers call it "a compelling and comedic exploration of human relationships tested by extraordinary circumstances during WWII."
Based on Hans Keilson’s novella Comedy in a Minor Key, the film revolves around a couple living an ordinary life who provides a Jewish perfume seller with refuge in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. According to the official description, the challenge of living with a stranger manifests in "unexpected ways" there. Lisa Owens adapted the novella for the screen.
Producers Cecilia Frugiuele and Olivier Kaempfer stated, "Combining Simon’s striking directorial vision, Lisa’s sharply witty and poignant screenplay, Hans Keilson’s timeless novel, and our exceptional lead cast with Matthew, Sally and Martin, we have all the ingredients for a truly special film. Pretend I’m Not Here offers a surprising take on a well-known period of history, and in doing so allows it to feel fresh and urgent, as well as both entertaining and profound."