MSN recommended our show as a top pick to watch over Memorial Day. "We Were the Lucky Ones has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews..." they wrote, adding that "it combines the harrowing reality of pain and loss amid war with stories of hope, love, and perseverance. It’s tough to watch at times, but the…
Just announced: We Were the Lucky Ones airs in the UK and Ireland on Disney+ starting on June 19, 2024. It premiered in Israel, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands on May 1. Stay tuned for more international roll-out dates. Full story here.
I won't lie - it feels great for our show to be singled out by USA Today as one of the best of 2024 so far. And I love the image they chose - the opening moment of the first episode, when Halina receives a message through the Red Cross that would change her life…
Take a peek at the side-by-side images published in The Wrap showing our wonderful actors and the character each one plays. We didn't cast for look-alikes, but rather for complimentary personalities. Left are Logan Lerman and his character, my grandfather Addy Kurc. You can see all the main characters here.
In The Wrap's digital cover story, Logan and Joey discussed their personal connections to the story behind We Were the Lucky Ones. “It was really appealing to explore the Jewish refugee experience, which I really hadn’t seen before,” Logan said. “It’s about people that are at the center of these conflicts and the real human stories and…
WWTLO director and executive producer Tommy Kail sheds light on his process and passions in an in-depth interview on Deadline's Behind the Lens. Brilliant as always! I especially love Tommy's recall of meeting my now-husband at summer camp, and of being inspired, years later, by conversations with my father Tom Hunter on writing and show…
Heartfelt appreciation to Joey for her thoughtful, delightful and insightful comments at The Hollywood Reporter's live THR Frontrunners Forum. Her description of getting to know the character she played - Halina, my great-aunt - in all her strength and spunkiness is inspiring, as are her reflections about the deep connections that came from working with…
Erica Lipez, our amazing lead writer, showrunner and executive producer, talked with an audience of hundreds on a Kveller zoom about the challenges and rewards of bringing this story to the world. Kudos and eternal thanks to Erica, now my close friend, whom I admire without bounds. You can watch the conversation here. .
When the script called for Selim to sing a lullaby to his baby daughter, Felicia, before leaving for the army, Israeli actor Michael Aloni chose a tune his mother used to sing in Polish. I love that example of cast members bringing their own experiences to their parts. Michael's interview with Kveller is here.
Seems like everyone's talking about the series finale! Episode 8, which aired on May 2, definitely brought out a lot of emotions. Kveller spoke with director Tommy Kail, showrunner Erica Lipez, several cast members and me for some perspectives on what went into it. Full story here.
Moran Rosenblatt spoke with TV Insider about her personal connection to the role of Herta and about becoming a mother on screen and then in real life. The Israeli actress, whose family was in the Holocaust, said of the ending when the Kurc family reunites, “The strongest feeling I felt was relief, but it was…
Screenshot I'm in love with the score for "We Were the Lucky Ones." In this Gold Derby interview, composers Rachel Portman and Jon Ehrlich discuss their approach to writing the music. Rachel (who previously won an Emmy for her "Emma" score) noted about our series: "This project felt so important." The…
When asked by Gold Derby how the cast members made such strong connections, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, who plays my great-uncle Genek, said "The secret sauce was in the topspin." It was his idea to bring the actors together for regular tennis games during time off while filming in Bucharest, Romania - and this became a key…
Based on all the feedback we're getting from family, friends and even complete strangers, the finale was incredibly emotional. Director Tommy Kail provided Daily Beast with insights on the powerful impact of the show in general. And I was especially moved that he mentioned my dad, Thomas Hunter, as an inspiration. Full story here.
One of the great pleasures of adapting "We Were the Lucky Ones" to the screen was working with casting director Fiona Weir, who deeply shared our vision of ensuring familial bonds between actors. “Even though our family was from different parts of the world ... they had this commonality of connection to the story,” Fiona…
IndieWire asked our executive producer and director, Tommy Kail, for his thoughts on how to approach a story with the wide scope of "We Were the Lucky Ones" - 12 characters navigating a war across four continents and nine years. You can find the full story, and a link to an audio conversation on IndieWire's…
In my conversation with Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper, we explored how understanding history can help us find empathy in today's world. The interviewer quoted me as saying, "Especially with young people, with students, I don't want the Holocaust to be ancient history. I want it to feel relevant... So now's the time to be bringing…
This one makes me tear up! In our Gold Derby interview, Tommy shares how my dad encouraged him as a young man just starting to think about a profession in the arts. I felt the presence of my dad - Tom Hunter, a published author himself - throughout every bit of the writing process. Here…
Michael Aloni put his whole heart into playing the role of my great uncle Selim, married to Mila Kurc, my grandfather's older sister. He told The Jerusalem Post: "I think this show is a great tool to deliver a message to the world, to remind people...that we must never forget what happened and that this…
This flash from the past - my grandmother Caroline at my college graduation - popped up in a recent UVAToday article. I can't help but wonder: Who could have predicted back then that 24 years later, my granny would be seen by the world - in a wonderful interpretation by Nicole Bloom in Episodes 7…
I chatted with Bakari Sellers on the day that the series finale aired in the U.S. Thanks, Bakari, for your insightful author-to-author questions. The podcast can be heard here.
Thank you so much, "Bridgerton" author Julia Quinn, for the Best Book to Screen pick! You can watch the segment here.
What a thrill to watch Joey and Logan help prepare and enjoy a gorgeous Passover Seder in this Hulu-Bon Appetit partnership. Chef Gabe Kennedy demos mouth watering recipes and Designer Rebekah Lowin's table setting is spectacular. I love rewatching this video, intercut with Passover scenes from our show. Watch the video.
I was delighted to join Joey and Logan on Morning Joe to discuss the series. Willie Geist asked about the research and the actors' sense of responsibility in playing real people. Joe Scarborough was curious about the show's timeliness. It was a pleasure to be on this live show with such perceptive and gracious hosts.…
Lisa Duncan's stunning costume designs and eye for authenticity did wonders to bring our series to life. After careful research, she either found actual 1930s and 40s clothing or fabricated it, using period styles and textiles. To see some of her incredible creations, scroll down through the photos in this reveal by Frock Flicks. Full…
Variety interviewed Amit, who plays Jakob in "We Were the Lucky Ones," and reported, "Growing up in Israel meant that ... Amit Rahav was taught about the Holocaust at any early age. His childhood in Tel Aviv included a school trip to concentration camps in Poland," a mandatory part of the school curriculum. Full story…
Hulu partnered up with Ancestry.com to shine a light on the value of researching one's family history. A favorite part of this video for me is catching glimpses of my cousins - in Spain, on Martha's Vineyard - and of my real grandparents, Caroline and Eddy. Full video here.
Sam Woolf, the wonderful actor who plays Adam opposite Joey King's Halina, told Wonderland Magazine about "reading Erica Lipez’s script and thinking it was one of the best pieces of writing I’d seen." Among his favorite memories from the shoot: "a collection of dinners with the cast that all run into one long memory of…
In an interview with Variety, Robin Weigert discussed what motivates the character she plays in the series, Nechuma (my great grandmother). She sees Nechuma as "the nurturer," and when her five children are scattered, she nurtures and comforts her husband, Sol, played by Lior Ashkenazi. Full story here.
Logan Lerman, who plays Addy (my grandfather) in the series, spoke candidly with Bazaar about his career choices and what it meant to be part of "We Were the Lucky Ones." Describing his own grandfather's experience of escaping the Nazis by fleeing to China, Logan said he was "able to draw from his own ancestry to create…
The lovely, funny and uber-talented Hadas Yaron, who plays Mila in the series, shared some candid photos and personal reflections with Town and Country Magazine. When the interview was published, the world was waiting with bated breath to learn Mila's fate after the harrowing ending of Episode 4. Full story here.
I was deeply moved to learn that before shooting began, Sam Woolf (Adam in the series) traveled to Poland to experience Łódź, where his own family of Holocaust survivors came from. The Direct unearthed some more fascinating details about this amazing actor and--since we met on set---good friend. Full story here.
Thomas Kail, our phenomenal director, talked to LA Times Magazine about the guiding principles for casting We Were the Lucky Ones. Referring to concepts we developed with writer/showrunner Erica Lipez, Tommy explained, "Something that we all thought about deeply was, ‘How can we find that person who connects in the most profound way with each…
Several journals reported on how the We Were the Lucky Ones series underscores the importance of preserving family histories through the voices of Holocaust survivors. Cast members said they found parallels between the experiences of the characters they portrayed and those of their own grandparents or great grandparents. Some pointed out the difficulty for some…
I sat down with Lisa McCree for an in-depth interview aired on LA Times Today. Along with several clips from the show, we delved into the backstory of bringing my family's story to the screen. You can watch the interview here.
Amit spoke with Kveller about how the cast of We Were the Lucky Ones felt like a family. Growing up in Israel, the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, Amit (Jakob in the show) said "it felt very natural to me to take these roles and tell the stories. I would do it again, and again, and…
Hadas Yaron, who plays Mila, spoke with Kveller about how some of her scenes reminded her of her own great-grandfather's story. "I’m alive because he was alive," Hadas said. "He was alive. He was murdered. And then all these years later, I’m telling a story of something that actually happened to him. My brain at times was…
In a conversation with aish, I revisited the early days when a high school assignment and a family reunion sparked my curiosity---which eventually led me to research and write We Were the Lucky Ones. Asked about my latest project, a second book: "I'm in the final stages of editing it, it's called One Good Thing,…
The Harvard Crimson weighed in on the show, noting that it "aims to show all sides, all emotions, and all situations through one family’s true story. Rich or poor, Orthodox or secular, escapee or detainee, the characters attempt to represent them all. Additionally, the show tries to humanize the characters as much as possible in…
The Wrap asked me to explain how I came to learn about the wartime experiences of my great aunt Felicia, played by Artemisia Pagliano in the early episodes. Felicia was just one year old at the start of the war. I was fortunate to have been able to spend time with her in Paris to…
"...this is one miniseries sure to bowl you over with its story," says WhatCulture, explaining that it "takes a familiar tragedy and injects it with fresh, life-affirming insight." The show is further described as "intimate, gorgeously shot, and vital." Full story here.
At the Television Critics Association preview in February, TV Insider shot some cool photos of Logan and Joey, who play siblings Addy and Halina in We Were the Lucky Ones. Full story and more shots here.
The True Story Behind Hulu's Holocaust Drama We Were the Lucky Ones. Read to learn more about the Kurc family's recent donation of wartime artifacts to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Los Angeles Times insists that We Were the Lucky Ones is not a history lesson. Instead, it's "a human story, of husbands and wives, parents and children, friends and lovers..." adding, "Its purpose, as television, is to make you feel, for the characters and by extension for a people — to experience, such as might be…
I'm so appreciative of Paula's endorsement of my family story, which she read before it was published seven years ago. Book and Film Globe goes on to say the television adaptation "illuminates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and thrive against all odds. Logan Lerman also…
"Hulu reveals a heart-wrenching exploration of love and loss across the realms with the We Were The Lucky Ones trailer," writes the UK-based Indiependent. "A title weighted with emotional nuance, the adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestseller is a confronting reminder of a deplorable period in history." Full story.
"For those holding their breath waiting for the release of 'We Were the Lucky Ones,' prepare to exhale," writes SlashFilm. "The highly anticipated series premieres Thursday, March 28 on Hulu, just over a month from now. The first three episodes of the show will be available to stream on the premiere date and the subsequent…
High on Films reports: "Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestselling novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, tells the incredible true story of a Jewish family separated at the start of World War II. In this Hulu Original limited series adaptation of the book, Joey King and Logan Lerman recount one of the darkest moments in…
In its reveal of "The Most Anticipated TV Shows in March 2024," Primetimer notes: "As unlikely as it sounds, We Were the Lucky Ones aims to be one of the more uplifting Holocaust dramas out there. Hulu's adaptation of Georgia Hunter's novel (itself inspired by the experience of Hunter's grandfather) follows a Polish Jewish family as they…
"Hulu reveals a heart-wrenching exploration of love and loss across the realms with the We Were The Lucky Ones trailer," writes the UK-based Indiependent. "A title weighted with emotional nuance, the adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestseller is a confronting reminder of a deplorable period in history." Full story.
It was a thrill to be featured at Temple Emanu-El's Streicker Cultural Center, where a sneak peak of Episode 1 of the series was screened, followed by a panel where I joined our director, Tommy Kail, showrunner, Erica Lipez, and two of our cast, Joey King and Logan Lerman, for a Q+A. The event took…
Collider has published an in-depth story about the book, the series, and what went into creating them, mentioning that I "drew inspiration from [my] family history to write the book, uncovering [my] grandfather's experience as a Holocaust survivor." Many details follow, but ... spoiler alert! (unless you've read the book)
"Helping to usher in the spring is the new Hulu limited series We Were the Lucky Ones," says What to Watch. "The series follows one family's story of trying to survive in the midst of World War II and the horrific events of the Holocaust. As chaos and hatred surround them, these family members rely…
The Washington Post lists new shows to be released in the coming weeks. "Hulu’s We Were the Lucky Ones, an adaptation of the Georgia Hunter novel, follows a Jewish family separated during World War II (March 28)." View trailer.
What a thrill to join a panel for the Television Critics Association as Hulu officially launched the trailer for our series, and to share the stage with director, producer and dear friend Tommy Kail, showrunner Erica Lipez and two of our incredible cast, Joey King and Logan Lerman. Read more.
Indiewire describes the series as "the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of WWII. The series follows them across continents as they do everything in their power to survive, and to reunite" and "a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds." Full story here.
At the We Were the Lucky Ones trailer launch, Logan and Joey spoke from the heart about what the show means to them. "They felt compelled to join their new show, We Were the Lucky Ones, based on their own experiences as individuals who have family members who escaped the Holocaust," KVUE-ABC reported. "The actors…
I'm delighted that The Economic Times appreciates the research that went into our series production. "Based on a bestselling book, the mini-series narrates the true story of a Jewish family and its struggle to survive during the war. With Joey King and Logan Lerman in lead roles, the adaptation carries out extensive research to create…
Joey King & Logan Lerman Flee The Nazis In Hulu Limited Series "The series is inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive and reunite,' according to the official synopsis," Deadline writes in its coverage of the trailer release. “The series demonstrates…
Joey King spoke from the heart at the Hulu's launch of the trailer for "We Were the Lucky Ones." Yahoo News reported on the panel discussion for the Television Critics Association: "It's exciting to watch. You love these people," King said. "But you really love this family while you're watching. You want to know what's…
At the Television Critics Event, when the series trailer was first aired, Logan Lerman, who plays my grandfather Addy, spoke about the importance of learning from the past. More here.
Kveller says: "Wow. The first trailer for Hulu’s upcoming series 'We Were The Lucky Ones,' based on the semi-biographical novel by Georgia Hunter about her family’s tale of Holocaust survival, is here. And it is absolutely stunning." Read Kveller's detailed reporting.
Thank you, OTT Play, for your recognition of our ensemble of actors as a "talented cast who prove their mettle via angsty and heart-touching performances." The article goes on to say that "the film does not stray from its hopeful purpose and emanates an atmosphere of faith, love, and endless belief." Read more.
Daily Beast reported on comments by Joey King and Logan Lerman about their personal connections to the series, which inspired them to look into their own heritage. Showrunner Erica Lipez reflected on how writing the show about the Kurc family affected her: "Living alongside this family really altered me as a person. I’m a much…
Logan Lerman plays my grandfather, Addy Kurc, in Hulu's adaptation of We Were the Lucky Ones. First he had to escape from Europe, then from North Africa. ABC News sums it up here.
It’s always inspiring to spend time with the younger generation and share ideas sparked by We Were the Lucky Ones. Read about my recent visit to Mercer Island schools and listen below for an interview with KMIH.
It’s almost here! Hulu's TV adaptation of We Were the Lucky Ones will debut on March 28, 2024. For a peek at what's to come, check out ELLE magazine's exclusive First Look interview with our extraordinary showrunner, Erica Lipez.
Thrilled to see We Were the Lucky Ones at the top of Kveller's list of most anticipated shows of 2024! "This is by far the show we’re most excited for in 2024. Based on the Georgia Hunter novel, which is loosely based on her own Polish Jewish family’s tale of Holocaust survival, it stars an…
Nice to see We Were the Lucky Ones getting some love down under! Thanks to the Australian Jewish News for including us on this list! "This is by far the show we’re most excited for in 2024. Based on the Georgia Hunter novel, which is loosely based on her own Polish Jewish family’s tale of Holocaust survival,…
Thank you to the Jewish Chronicle for including We Were the Lucky Ones in your round-up of must-watch shows in 2024! "Georgia Hunter’s bestselling novel We Were The Lucky Ones was inspired by a family reunion in 2000 that revealed the wartime stories of her grandfather and his family. A tale of Holocaust survival, the television adaptation…
Students are my favorite audience. The questions and conversations that come of our discussions are often profound. Huge thanks to Seattle's Mercer Island community for inviting me to speak with such an engaged group of students, faculty and parents! I hope that in sharing my family’s Holocaust account (along with the process of unearthing and…
Thrilled to speak next month at the Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation's Leadership Luncheon! Date: February 29, 2024, 11:00 am-2:00pm CDT Please email TosaLibraryFoundation@gmail.com for details.
Word is out! Our upcoming limited series, We Were the Lucky Ones, is one of "The Most Anticipated 2024 TV Shows" according to Vanity Fair. Although Hulu's exact launch date is yet to be announced, we're loving the buzz in industry news.
Last Wednesday marked the 123rd and final day of the We Were the Lucky Ones series shoot. I can't believe it. I remember meeting the cast and walking the hallways of the Kurc apartment in Bucharest for the first time as if it were yesterday. I made four trips across the pond to be a…
Now that filming for the series pilot (which features the entire Kurc family) has wrapped, we’re bringing more amazing talent on board to play key roles. Ido and Lihi are perfect for Isaac, a close family friend, and Eliska, the young woman my grandfather almost married! Can’t wait to watch them inhabit these roles over…
With Tommy on the day I arrived in Romania "Hello, friend," said Tommy, producer and director for the television series of We Were the Lucky Ones. "Come meet your family." It was the day before Thanksgiving, and I'd just landed in Bucharest, Romania, where filming would take place. Tommy was leading a rehearsal…
More wonderful news! I'm beyond excited to officially welcome Henry Lloyd Hughes, Moran Rosenblatt, Sam Woolf and Michael Aloni to the We Were the Lucky Ones family!! What a joy it’s been to get to know this cast, to watch them at work. In awe of the skill, the chemistry, the LOVE these four (along…
Recently announced! I’ve had the honor of getting to know these three amazing humans over the last few weeks of filming our series pilot. An official welcome, Amit, Eva and Hadas, to the We Were the Lucky Ones family!! What a thrill it’s been to watch you bring our Jakob, Bella and Mila to life on set with…
I'm thrilled to share the news that Robin Weigert and Lior Ashkenazi have been cast to play my great-grandparents in Hulu's limited series of We Were the Lucky Ones. I couldn't imagine more talented actors to play these two crucial roles of Nechuma and Sol, and I'm truly moved by their enthusiasm over getting to know…
This group!! It's tough to put to words just how much the smiling faces in the photos below have come to mean to me over the course of our four months together. Our Writers Room first gathered as a whole in May. We weighed in from both coasts and we met every day, often for…
I've been fielding a lot of questions lately about the Hulu adaptation of We Were the Lucky Ones, like where we're filming (we'll shoot the bulk of the series in Romania), when we'll begin (at the end of November) and whether I'll go over for the shoot (absolutely, as often as possible!)--but the question I…
Two and a half years ago, when COVID tilted the world on its axis and swept us all into isolation, my family proposed a weekly Zoom---a means to check in on one another, to visit safely and to stay sane via some human, friendly interaction. While not everyone has been able to make every meeting,…
Friends! It's been a minute since I've posted to my blog (my apologies--I'll blame the radio silence on the pandemic, and on a looming deadline for Book 2!). Let me catch you up with the latest news. As I reported some time ago, my dear friend Thomas Kail optioned We Were the Lucky Ones for television. After…
Friends! It's been a minute since I've posted to my blog (my apologies--I'll blame the radio silence on the pandemic, and on a looming deadline for Book 2!). Let me catch you up with the latest news. As I reported some time ago, my dear friend Thomas Kail optioned We Were the Lucky Ones for television. After…
I'm thrilled and humbled to be included in BuzzFeed’s list of books that have changed readers’ lives – to find We Were the Lucky Ones among classic favorites by authors like Maya Angelou, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Viktor E. Frankl, Stephen Hawking, Aldous Huxley, Kazuo Ishiguro, Gabriel García Márquez, Art Spiegelman, J. R. R. Tolkien, Leo Tolstoy, Kurt Vonnegut, David…
It was a special thrill to return to my elementary and middle school alma mater, Gordon School, in East Providence, RI, where eighth graders were curious, engaged, and asked great questions. The visit was a good reminder of my own early influences in developing an inquiring mind. Grateful for my years in that creative environment!…
Both Sol, known for his generosity and easygoing nature, and Nechuma, the “mighty matriarch” as she’s affectionately called, are well liked and respected among Poles and Jews alike in the Radom community. They take great pride in the success of their fabric shop, as well as in their children’s upbringing, education, and careers.
Halina is the youngest and most rebellious of the five Kurc siblings. Whether in the right or blatantly in the wrong, she stands her ground with the brazen defiance of a pitbull guarding a bone. Thanks to her bravado, her blond hair, and her sea-green eyes, Halina, twenty-two at the start of the war, abides…
The youngest and most soft-spoken of the three Kurc brothers, Jakob is a hopeless romantic. Playful, humble, and forever resistant to being the center of attention, there’s hardly anywhere he’d rather be than beside his high school sweetheart, Bella, or peering down through the viewfinder of his Rolleiflex camera.
Genek is the oldest and the most debonair of the Kurc siblings. With a law degree, a dimpled smile, and a sexy, signature swagger, Genek, a lawyer by trade, can talk his way into or out of just about anything. His wife Herta jokes that he talked her into marriage the day they met at…
Addy’s older sister Mila is greatly admired by each of her siblings. With a degree in classical music and a passion for literature and travel, Mila’s approach to life is at once thoughtful and diligent. As a new mother at the start of the war, Mila must learn to keep a brave face, no matter…
Whether composing a hit song in Poland or bent over the keys of a Steinway aboard a ship full of refugees, Addy is an entertainer through and through. A charmer and a joker with a soft spot for beautiful women and American jazz, his musical prowess and quirky, larger-than-life personality earn him the affection of…
Thank you, WorldClassPerformer.com, for including my interview with those of other writers and public figures who share their "Short Life Lessons."
Like other authors, I sorely miss the chance to meet with readers in person, thanks to social distancing - a necessary element of the Coronavirus pandemic. But maybe a silver lining is the ability to reach new audiences virtually, regardless of location. This week I was delighted to be "in the room" with readers from…
Honored to review We Germans for the NYTimes Book Review, in the 8/30/20 issue devoted to World War II at 75. This does feel like an opportune moment to seek out "perspectives starkly different from our own."
Honored to be selected as a reader's choice finalist by my French publisher, Les Editions Charleston. The Prix des Lectrices is awarded annually by literary bloggers and influencers - a group of 60 this year. The winner is chosen in June. Merci, Editions Charleston!
Thanks, UK publisher Allison & Busby, for selecting We Were the Lucky Ones as the Editor's Choice Book of the Month for May! And for including Chapter One as a "free taster."
We Were the Lucky Ones is one of Book Riot readers' all-time favorite World War II fiction books. Honored to be in such good company!
It's always nice to see independent bookstores featured in the media. I loved visiting {pages} in Huntington Beach, CA, during my 2018 paperback tour. Read all about this "book world destination" here. And thank you, Alex, for remembering my appearance! "Alex Geffner-Millsten has worked at {pages} for two years. Next month, he’ll be organizing the the…