Clint Eastwood has taken an interest lately in profiling real-life heroes. A few years back we got the blockbuster hit “American Sniper,” last year was the somewhat underrated “Sully,” and, for a moment, the director was looking at helming “Impossible Odds,” which would tell the true story of Jessica Buchanan, who was kidnapped by Somali land pirates in 2011 and held for 93 days before being rescued in a daring Seal Team Six mission. That project isn’t happening, but Eastwood is pivoting to something that keeps with the theme of his past few movies.
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“The 15:17 To Paris” will tell the true story of three American soldiers who thwarted a terrorist attack in 2015 by overcoming the terrorist before he could act. The whole thing takes place on a train from Brussels bound to Paris. In an interesting casting move, Eastwood has chosen the actual soldiers in the event — Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone — to play themselves in the movie. The trio also wrote the book on which the film is based, and, apparently, the decision to cast them was made at the last minute, with the director changing his mind, even though he and studio already had more established names in mind.
Joining the Sadler, Skarlatos, and Stone in the film will be Jenna Fischer, Judy Greer, and Ray Corasani, with Paul-Mikel Williams, Max Ivutin, Bryce Gheisa, Cole Eichenberger, and William Jennings playing younger versions of the soldiers. The movie will follow their friendship from childhood until that fateful day.
No word yet on when filming will begin, but it looks like Eastwood has all the pieces in place for “The 15:17 To Paris,” so production will likely start soon. You can probably go ahead and pencil this in for next year’s awards race. [Variety]