Work and Structure: New film starring Sandra Hüller as Wolfgang Herrndorf
The autobiographical book by the late German author serves as the basis for the movie
Sandra Hüller's next leading role has been confirmed: As has now been officially announced, the actress is on board for the film adaptation of "Arbeit und Struktur" ("Work and Structure"). The film is based on the autobiographical book by German author Wolfgang Herrndorf, who passed away in 2013. Maria Schrader is directing and, along with Jan Schomburg, is also responsible for the screenplay. Hüller will play Wolfgang Herrndorf.
The book on which the upcoming film adaptation is based chronicles the final years of Herrndorf's life after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2010. A press release describes the specific focus of the screen adaptation of "Arbeit und Struktur" as follows:
"'Arbeit und Struktur' is a film about life and death, told by someone who knows exactly how little time he has left: Amid hospital stays, manic creative phases, and tender moments with friends and his partner Carola, a portrait emerges of a man who is relentlessly marching toward certain death and yet writes that the time following his diagnosis was the best three years of his life. In addition to working on three different novels, he chronicles the shifts between panic and serenity, happiness and insomnia, euphoria and nihilism. In search of what truly matters, he turns his gaze radically inward – and from there, back out into the world."
Sandra Hüller: "A great honor and challenge"
Lead actress Sandra Hüller has drawn international attention for her outstanding performances. Among other things, she caused a stir about three years ago in Jonathan Glazer's "The Zone of Interest" and Justine Triet's "Anatomy of a Fall." She appears to be establishing herself more and more in Hollywood. Most recently, she enjoyed success in the sci-fi blockbuster "Project Hail Mary" alongside Hollywood star Ryan Gosling. With "Digger," she has landed her next prestigious project: In the film, we'll see her on the big screen alongside Tom Cruise starting October 2, 2026.
Regarding "Arbeit und Struktur," she is quoted in the press release as saying:
"Ever since my first encounter with Wolfgang Herrndorf's work, his writing has never let me go. His texts surprise, unsettle, and comfort all at once. To encounter him as a person in this film – at a moment when his life changed abruptly, threatened to fall apart, and he simultaneously discovered his voice as an author before it tragically fell silent – is a great honor and challenge for me."
Maria Schrader: "One of the most exciting challenges"
Maria Schrader, director of "Arbeit und Struktur", has not only worked behind the camera throughout her career but has also appeared in numerous roles as an actress. Among the films she has most recently directed are "She Said" and "I'm Your Man". The latter was Germany's entry for the 2022 Oscars in the "Best International Feature Film" category – though the sci-fi romance ultimately failed to make the cut among the five nominated films.
Schrader says of her new film:
"'Arbeit und Struktur' is a solitary and intimate account of what it means to be alive. A man fights his disappearance with words and, in the face of death, becomes more alive than ever before. Through his uncompromising honesty, intelligence, and irony, we follow Herrndorf into the bright, dark, and secret corners of the human condition. Bringing that to the screen is one of the most exciting challenges I can imagine."
Filming is set to begin in early 2027. "Arbeit und Struktur" is scheduled to be released in 2028. Movie fans who want to explore Wolfgang Herrndorf's work in advance can watch the film adaptation of his novel "Tschick." The following trailer (German-language) offers a glimpse of the movie of the same name by director Fatih Akin:
