While topping his last film will be one helluva feat, Clint Eastwood has picked a compelling story to give it a go.
Coming off the success of “American Sniper,” which brought in over $350 million, making it the biggest domestic moneymaker of 2014, Eastwood’s next film will be about Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger.
Sullenberger was the pilot of US Airways Flight 1549, which was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River in January 2009 after a flock of birds took out its engines.
The incident was dubbed the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
And while Eastwood will focus on the saga of yet another American hero, the film has a long way to go to top his film about the life of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, which more than doubled the revenue of Eastwood’s previously highest-grossing movie, “Gran Torino.”
Allyn Stewart and Frank Marshall will produce alongside Eastwood, according to the entertainment news website HitFix — Marshall optioned the rights to Sullenberger’s life story and memoir “Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters.”
The retired pilot is thrilled over the selection.
“I am very glad my story is in the hands of gifted storyteller and filmmaker Clint Eastwood, and veteran producers Allyn Stewart and Frank Marshall,” Sullenberger said in a statement. “The project could not have found a better home than Warner Bros. Pictures. This is truly a dream team.”
Obama praises courage of Bruce Jenner; Americans introduce him to Chris Kyle
HitFix speculated on whether Eastwood would come out of retirement as an actor to play Sully — the last film he was in front of the camera in was “Gran Torino.”
And if not Eastwood, perhaps Harrison Ford. The action star is also a recreational pilot, who survived a pretty serious crash of his own in March.
“According to the Hollywood Reporter story that broke the news, [Ford] first introduced Sullenberger to Marshall. And he knows a thing or two about ditch landings,” HitFix editor-at-large Kristopher Tapley wrote.
Sullenberger took to social media to share the exciting news. Here is his tweet, along with a sampling of responses from Twitter:
Clint Eastwood, @wbpictures are teaming up to tell my story. It’s an honor to have it in such talented hands. http://t.co/jcz1ajaOFN
— Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) June 2, 2015
@Captsully @wbpictures @THR Fantastic, he’ll do an incredible job. I just read this on Sky News. An honour to have you as a follower Captain
— Bentley (@LRBentley) June 2, 2015
@Captsully well deserved, Sully!
— Ben Shore (@Ben5hore) June 2, 2015
@Captsully @TPOTEfan @wbpictures @THR I think George Clooney should play you!!!
— Linda.. (@mrslasmith) June 3, 2015
@mrslasmith @Captsully @wbpictures @THR I think Clint should! They actually look alike.
— Patricia (@TPOTEfan) June 3, 2015
@Captsully @wbpictures @THR -can’t wait to see the movie. My husband is a pilot and he speaks very highly of what you did. You are a hero!
— Sara Jane Soboleski (@SajaneClass0812) June 3, 2015
@Captsully @wbpictures @THR It would be cool to have Eastwood in front of the cameras as Sully.
— TBone (@BOZOBRIZZO) June 3, 2015
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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