First Photo from Mel Gibson’s WWII Film HACKSAW RIDGE with Andrew Garfield
Mel Gibson has started shooting his next film, Hacksaw Ridge, and he released a photo and statement to mark the occasion. The movie stars Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, and Sam Worthington, who are all shown in the photo above. This is the statement Gibson released:
“While production has only just begun, there is already incredible camaraderie between the cast. Not only is Andrew perfect for the role of Desmond Doss, the entire cast are an incredible mix of experience, depth and exciting up and coming talent.”
I’m interested in seeing Gibson’s vision of this story, which tells the true World War II story of the "307th Infantry, 77th Army Division, 1st Battalion, Company B as they train for battle. The story begins at a base camp in South Carolina and follows the recruits as they learn basic wartime survival skills before being deployed to Japan where they come face to face with the action at the Battle of Okinawa."
Garfield plays Corporal Desmond Doss. He was the first conscientious objector to receive the US congressional Medal of Honor after acts of bravery and sacrifice, saving 75 men during the Battle of Okinawa.
Vaughn plays Sgt. Howell, "a non-commissioned officer from Alabama whose job is to make sure the soldiers are ready for battle. Although he tries to instill fear in his soldiers by pushing them to their limits both physically and mentally, it is clear that he really cares about them and will do whatever it takes to keep them alive. Having a member who refuses to shoot and kill the enemy contradicts everything the sergeant has learned about war."
Regardless of how you feel about Gibson as a person, It’s hard to deny that the guy is a talented filmmaker who knows how to tell great stories. Hacksaw Ridge is Gibson’s first film as a director since Apocalypto back in 2006.