The bestselling memoir by Travis Mills based on his life during and after war is being adapted into a Film, with Sylvester Stallone attached to direct and star, and Adam Driver (best known as Kylo Ren from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” or Adam from “Girls” if you’re a bit more indie). Market-cornering talent agency William Morris is offering the film around various studios, with word through the grapevine pointing to 20th Century Fox.
The film will tell Mills’ story
While Stallone may not seem one for tearjerking drama such as this, don’t forget that he owes all his fame to classic Oscar-nominated drama “Rocky” (and its multifarious sequels).
“Tough As They Come” is the true story of Mills’ life, specifically the part of his life when he became officially known as U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mills, and sustained a terrible injury in battle which required a quadruple amputation (all of his limbs) to save him. He’s one of just five soldiers to survive such an operation. The heart of this story is the relationship between Mills and his father-in-law, who stood by his side through the whole ordeal and helped to support him from the second he got home from the hospital.
Driver will be playing the role of Mills (which will be a challenge for the actor, as is playing a disabled role for all able-bodied actors), while Stallone will be playing the father-in-law.
Stallone was nominated for an Oscar last year for “Creed” but famously lost to Mark Rylance for “Bridge of Spies.” This film could be a way of reclaiming that glory and hopefully winning this time. The Academy members love a good war story, and a good tearjerker, and this could be both if he plays his cards right.
Fox is acquiring the package
Fox’s acquisition includes a bunch of things: the life rights of Mills, the film rights to his memoir, and the life rights of Mills’ father-in-law, Craig Buck (the one Stallone will be playing). The producers attached include Susan and Eric Carlson (whose medical comedy-drama “Heartbeat” was just cancelled by NBC) and James Keach, primarily an actor who used to be married to Jane Seymour.
The film is hot on the heels of Stallone announcing that he intends to use his status and ability to sell films to put the spotlight on Military personnel coming home and bring attention to returning heroes. Much like “First Blood” did, he wants to bring attention to the difficulties veterans’ face when returning to civilisation from a war zone.
Driver’s new films “Paterson” and “Silence” (in which he co-stars with Liam Neeson and was directed by Martin Scorsese) are out now. Stallone has just announced plans to make “The Expendables 4” are in place and will be making uncharacteristic appearances in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Animal Crackers” this year.
