Luke Evans Joins Roland Emmerich’s World War II Action Film Midway

Fate of the Furiousstar Luke Evans will link the cast ofMidway , Roland Emmerich ’s cinema establish on the pivotal World War II battle . Evans joins Woody Harrelson and Mandy Moore , who previously jump off aboard the period action film . Lionsgate has picked up North American distribution rights for the movie financed by Bona Film Group , which antecedently produced the Liam Neeson hitThe Commuter .

Emmerich ’s film revolves around one of the central struggle of WWII , when Japanese and American forces collide at the remote Pacific Island of Midway . Six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor , the Nipponese Navy meant to deal a critical gust to the American fleet , but the Americans had already break away the Nipponese codes and recognize the enemy was on their elbow room . The ensuing battle would deliver a disabling bang to the Japanese Navy , who would never recuperate from the stunning defeat .

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After aim such catastrophe movies asIndependence Day , GodzillaandThe Day After Tomorrow , Roland Emmerich will now turn his attentionto a veridical - life event that proved black for the nation of Japan . In addition to previously announced virtuoso Woody Harrelson and Mandy Moore , THRreports that Luke Evans will go along with Emmerich on his re - creation of the historic battle of Midway . Evans will impersonate Lieutenant Commander C. Wade McClusky , a Naval aviator who run a critical role in the conflict and go on to get ahead the Navy Cross for his action mechanism .

The Welshman is perhapsbest recognize for playing Owen Shaw , the mercenary comrade of Jason Statham ’s Deckard Shaw , in theFast and the Furiousfranchise . Last year , Evans flirt Gaston in the live - actionBeauty and the Beast , and also portrayedWonder Womancreator William Moulton Marston in the dramaProfessor Marston and the Wonder Women . before this twelvemonth , Evans starred alongside Daniel Bruhl and Dakota Fanning in the dark strait-laced TV dramaThe Alienist . His coming projectsinclude the Luc Besson filmAnna , the Blumhouse thrillerMa , and the Netflix comedyMurder Mysteryco - star Adam Sandler , Jennifer Anistonand Gemma Arterton .

By joining the cast ofMidway , Evans hops aboard a project that will have more than its share of skepticism as it make its style to the screen . Though Emmerich has attempted to make more serious flick over the class of his vocation , with rather mixed results , the theatre director is primarily link up with schlocky catastrophe movies . Many will question whether Emmerich ’s special acquirement at orchestrating mindless action will read to a picture depict a very real event that retain to hold a important position in American military account . Another filmmaker known for schlock , Michael Bay , attempted a similar endeavor with hisPearl Harbor , and that movie wound up being almost universally panned . Then again , maybe Emmerich will find a balance between human drama and jumbo spectacle that Bay was not capable to reach in his film .