Well here’s a fascinating pairing. Marvel stalwartChris Hemsworthand scene-stealer extraordinaireMichael Shannonare teaming up to co-star in a true story drama set in the weeks after the 9/11 attacks. Per Deadline, the duo have signed on to star inHorse Soldiers, which recounts the tale of a U.S. Special Forces team and their untested captain who were sent to a mountainous region in Afghanistan where they were assigned to join leagues with a Northern Alliance warlord to battle and drive out the Taliban. Danish filmmaker and photojournalistNicolai Fuglsigwill be making his feature directorial debut on the film after helming a number of buzzworthy commercials, including the live-action trailer forHalo 4.
Black Label Media is co-financing the project withJerry Bruckheimeronboard as one of the producers, and the film is based onDoug Stanton’s book of the same name, which was adapted into screenplay form byPeter Craig(The Queen) andTed Tally(The Silence of the Lambs).
The project has been in the works for years and certainly sounds like a true-life hero drama in the vein ofLone SurvivororDeepwater Horizon. It marks a curious choice for Hemsworth, who has thus far had trouble finding success outside his Marvel movies despite toplining a number of high-profile features.Snow White and the Huntsman, in which he had a co-starring role, has been his most successful to date as audiences eschewed hisRon HowardfilmsIn the Heart of the Seaand the sorely underratedRush. It’s his turn in the latter film that proves the guy has great talent outside of playing Thor, but again films likeBlackhatorThe Huntsman: Winter’s Warfailed to take off.
Hemsworthhasfound success in the comedy realm with noteworthy supporting roles inVacationandGhostbusters, and if Paramount actually makesStar Trek 4he’s set to reprise his role as George Kirk. Hemsworth is currently filmingThor: Ragnarokin Australia and is expected to return forAvengers: Infinity War, but with today’s news it sounds like he’s still intent on tackling serious dramatic subject matter as well.
As for Shannon, he recentlyreplacedJake GyllenhaaloppositeBenedict Cumberbatchin theThomas EdisonmovieThe Current Warand is in the midst of filmingGuillermo del Toro’s secretiveThe Shape of Water.The guy is one of the most watchable actors working today, and he has a terrific turn inTom Ford’s upcoming thrillerNocturnal Animalsand a small but memorable role in the interracial marriage dramaLoving.
It’s unclear whenHorse Soldierswill begin production, but early 2017 seems like a real possibility.
