Clint Eastwood to Direct Biopic About the Heroic Hudson River Pilot

After last year’s box office hit American Sniper, Clint Eastwood is looking to another American hero for his next project, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He will be directing an adaptation of the “Miracle on the Hudson” story about the dramatic events surrounding Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s heroic landing of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers on board. 

The flight had just left LaGuardia Airport when the jet’s engines were compromised by a flock of geese. Sullenberger decided there would not be sufficient time to make it to an airport, prompting him to make the expert landing in the Hudson River.

It is unclear whether or not Eastwood will be stepping into the role of Sullenberger himself, although their resemblance would make him a particularly good fit. The last time Eastwood played the dual roles of director and actor was for 2008’s Gran Torino.

The adapted screenplay by Todd Komarnicki (Perfect Stranger) will incorporate elements from Sullenberger’s memoir Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters. Eastwood is one of the producers and his longtime studio partner, Warner Bros., will handle distribution. According to Warner Bros. representative Greg Silverman, the film will go beyond the event and into the more human moments of Sullenberger’s choice that could have cost him his reputation and/or license.

Sullenberger himself said in a statement:

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. The project could not have found a better home than Warner Bros. Pictures. This is truly a dream team.