Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios has acquired the international rights to Midway, to be directed by iconic filmmaker Roland Emmerich (Independence Day franchise, The Day After Tomorrow) from a script by Wes Tooke, and will introduce the film to buyers at Cannes. Deadline is also reporting that Woody Harrelson (Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Mandy Moore (This Is Us) are in negotiations to join what will be an ensemble cast, and that the $100 million dollar movie will lens in Hawaii and Canada.
Based on the true story of the Battle of Midway, a turning point in the Pacific theater of World War II, the film chronicles the heroic and harrowing exploits of the soldiers and aviators who achieved the unbelievable to turn the tide of the war.
Produced by Emmerich’s Centropolis Entertainment, Midway will be produced by Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser (2012, White House Down, Independence Day: Resurgence), and Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot, Molly’s Game). The film is in pre-production with principal photography to start August 16.
”Roland’s track record and brand as a master of big budget action films is second to none and I’m highly confident ‘Midway’ will make a big splash in the Cannes marketplace,” said Ford.
Starlight Entertainment Group and Providence Entertainment Limited are financing Midway. U.S. and China theatrical distribution is already set with Lionsgate to release through its Summit Entertainment label stateside and Bona Film Group to release in Greater China. Creative Artists Agency (CAA) brokered the financing and distribution deals.
Universal Pictures released a big budget epic version of the event also titled Midway in 1976, which starred Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn and Toshiro Mifune.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
