The Producer of HACKSAW RIDGE is Developing a War Movie About an American Fighter Who Died Battling ISIS

Credit: Courtesy of David Permut/Variety

David Permut, the producer of Mel Gibson’s incredible World War II film, Hacksaw Ridge, is developing another war movie. This one will tell the true story of Levi Shirley, an American fighter who died in Syria while battling ISIS.

The film will be based on a Los Angeles Times article by David Kelly titled, “The Marines Wouldn’t Take Him, So Levi Shirley Went to War on His Own”. Permut optioned the rights to the article along with the life rights from Levi’s mother Susan Shirley. You can read the article here.

Shirley, who grew up in Denver, “had been desperate to be a U.S. Marine, but an irreversible eye problem prevented him from enlisting. With no formal training, he joined the YPG, a Kurdish militia seeking volunteers to help them fight ISIS. He arranged to be smuggled into Syria to fight alongside the Kurds and was killed in Syria at the age of 24.”

Susan Shirley will also be a consultant on the film and she was recently interviewed on CNN in the aftermath of President Trump’s decision to pull American troops from Syria, allowing Turkey to attack American Kurdish allies, including the YPG. She said:

“Levi had an incredible conviction to defend his country alongside the Kurds against the continuing threats of ISIS. This profound, important, and timely story is as relevant as ever given the unfortunate circumstances occurring in Syria, and we hope to honor Levi’s sacrifice by telling his story and enlightening those who are unaware.”

This is an interesting and moving story and it’s sure to make a great film with the right team of talent behind it.

Source: Variety