In an unconventional move, Clint Eastwood has tapped the three Americans, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone, and Anthony Sadler to play themselves in his movie, “The 15:17 to Paris,” a film about the men who thwarted a terrorist attack on a Paris-bound train 2 years ago.
AP Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos and civilian Anthony Sadler will appear in the film about their heroic act of taking down a heavily armed gunman who injured three people on a train from Amsterdam to Paris, The Associated Press reported late Tuesday.
The three California men, all childhood friends from California, who thwarted a terror attack on a French train in 2015 will make the rare move of playing themselves in a Clint Eastwood-directed film about their heroics, a studio announced Tuesday.
“The 15:17 to Paris,” a film based on the book they co-wrote about taking down a terrorist, Warner Bros. said in a statement.
The film, which began production this week, follows the lives of the three friends from childhood to the evening when they helped subdue the man who opened fire inside a train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris.
The Sacramento-area men were vacationing in Europe when they tackled Ayoub El-Khazzani, a Muslim terrorist who authorities said has ties to radical Islam. El-Khazzani had boarded the Paris-bound train with a Kalashnikov rifle, pistol and box cutter.
The film will be the latest of several about real-life heroes that Eastwood has taken on, including 2014’s “American Sniper,” and 2016’s “Sully.” But the leads in those films were played by Oscar-nominee Bradley Cooper and Oscar-winner Tom Hanks, respectively, not their actual subjects.
It’s common to give cameo roles to the subjects of films that don’t require more than a line or two, but this case is nearly unprecedented in recent Hollywood history. There are no reports of the men having any acting experience, though Skarlatos appeared on “Dancing With the Stars” soon after the Paris incident.
I hope Clint lives to over a hundred, this story made my heart sing.
The best thing for me aside from their incredible heroism, was that although obviously from different ethnic groups the most important thing about them appeared to be their unity as Americans, servicemen and men of unequaled valor.
Clint was right to enshrine their integrity and I for one am very happy to see Western men being lauded instead of being slagged off all the time.
Everyone who gives a damn about civilization needs to see this movie and buy the DVD.
Three of the sexiest men in the USA. I’m an enthusiastic fan of strong, heroic men. 😉
A very cool idea. Way to go, Clint!
Great news; made my day.
Clint is one of the few good guys in Pallywood unlike looney Clooney and the other idiots like hanoi jane and silly streep who reside on the left wondering why their films are failing. Well done to these three brave men who were not afraid to act to save lives. Looking forward to this movie about real people doing real things to stop mus slum mayhem and murder.
This is such a great story. I remember it well and I was really thrilled with the results. And, in fact, the way it was covered. This could very well be a great movie. ABSOLUTELY the best possible cast and director. And, isn’t it great to have Clint Eastwood apparently still at the top of his game? I can’t imagine not seeing an Eastwood movie. I will see this one on day one. Thanks for covering this Bonni.
Tom
I’m a war movie fan and I wish we could see Robert’s Ridge and The Outpost. Both about battles fought in Afghanistan. This movie is going to be good, though.