Hacksaw Ridge - November 4, 2016

[Akijama]

Mel Gibson and Andrew Garfield are in talks to team up for a World War II drama.

Gibson is slated to direct Hacksaw Ridge, the true story of war hero Private First Class Desmond T. Doss who won the Congressional Medal of Honor, even though he refused to bear arms on religious grounds.

Garfield would play Doss, if a deal comes to fruition.

Doss was drafted in 1942 but refused to kill or carry a weapon. He became a medic in the Pacific theater but was ostracized for his beliefs by other soldiers. However, refusing to be cowed, Doss made himself a legend when he saved 75 men during the Battle of Okinawa. He helped evacuate the wounded near enemy lines, braved fire while tending to soldiers on the field, and in one overnight battle, was wounded by a grenade and later hit by a sniper while saving grunts. Doss also received two Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts.

The movie has been over 13 years in the making and was originally set up at Disney. Ironically, it had Gibson's We Were Soldiers helmer Randall Wallace directing back then.

The project, which at one point was operating under the title The CO, has David Permut and Billl Mechanic producing, both of whom have been attached since the beginning and have proved to be tenacious with this story. Cross Creek Pictures is financing and also producing with the goal of shooting next year.

Garfield is coming off strong notices for 99 Homes, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and acquired by Broad Green Pictures.

Gibson, who appeared in The Expendables 3, hasn’t directed a movie since 2006’s Apocalypto.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...d-talks-739221