The first image has been released from Mel Gibson’s film, Hacksaw Ridge. Andrew Garfield is set to lead the World War II drama, which tells the true story of war hero Desmond T. Doss, a private who was drafted in 1942 but refused to kill or carry a weapon. He was stationed in the Pacific where he worked as a medic and was ostracized for his beliefs, but he became a hero when he saved 75 men during the Battle of Okinawa, helping to evacuate the wounded and putting himself directly in the line of fire.
It’s an exciting prospect for Garfield, who will be coming back to drama in a more prominent role after spending the last few years dividing his time primarily between the stage and Spider-Man, and for Gibson as well, who is making is first directorial effort in almost a decade.
It’s an especially curious project for Gibson, who’s usually obsessed with violence, and his latest film is about a man who accepts violence in the world but doesn’t want to contribute to it. That’s a fascinating dichotomy, and while I haven’t been a fan of the movies directed by Gibson, the elements here are too interesting to ignore.
Check out the full image below, and click here for what Garfield said to Steve about working with Gibson. Filming is currently underway on Hacksaw Ridge, which also stars Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, and Rachel Griffiths. Per The Wrap, "Captain Glover (Worthington) is in charge of the unit, while Vaughn plays Sergeant Howell, whose job is to get the new recruits ready for battle. Bracey is Smitty Ryker, the alpha of the platoon that Doss belongs to. As an army medic Doss single-handedly evacuated the wounded near enemy lines, braved fire while tending to soldiers and was wounded by a grenade and hit by snipers. He was the first conscientious objector to ever win the Congressional Medal of Honour.
The film also takes place in Doss’ hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia and Palmer has been cast as his sweetheart Dorothy Shutte, with Griffiths playing Desmond’s mother Bertha Doss."