“Braveheart” writer Randall Wallace will direct “The Conscientious Objector” for Walden Media, Walden confirmed to TheWrap.
The film tells the true story of Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector in American history to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. Doss served in WWII, joining the army as a medic. He was ostracized by his fellow soldiers because of his refusal to kill or even carry a gun. He proved his courage, saving 75 men at the Battle of Okinawa.
Drafted in 1942, the Seventh-day Adventist became a medic because he refused to carry a weapon into combat.
Wallace earned his lone Oscar nomination as a writer, penning the script for “Braveheart,” but his directing credits include “The Man in the Iron Mask,” “We Were Soldiers” and “Secretariat.” He wrote the first two but not the latter.
Aaron Schneider had previously been attached to direct.
The script was written by Robert Schenkkan, who wrote the Pulitzer-winning play The Kentucky Cycles and whose script credits include The Pacific and The Quiet American. The film is a co-production between Pandemonium and Permut Presentations, and is being produced by Bill Mechanic, David Permut and Terry Benedict (who directed the 2004 documentary bearing the same title). Steve Longi is co-producer.
Be the first to comment