The cameras have been cranking on war drama Hacksaw Ridge for weeks already, but Mel Gibson has still found room for one more actor in his peformance ranks. Hugo Weaving, slightly well known after the likes of The Matrix and The Lord Of The Rings, has signed up.
With a script from Gibson’s old collaborator Randall Wallace, Hacksaw Ridge is based on the true story of Desmond T. Doss, who served as a US Army medic in World War II during the battle of Okinawa and refused to kill. Despite his objections, his incredible valour saving lives during the battle saw him awarded the Medal of Honor, the first time a conscientious objector has won the decoration.
Andrew Garfield is playing Doss, with Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell, the man whose job it is to get raw recruits ready for combat, Sam Worthington as Captain Glover, in charge of the unit and Luke Bracey as Smitty Ryker, the tough alpha of the platoon. Teresa Palmer will be Doss’ true love Dorothy Shutte, with Rachel Griffiths as his mother, Bertha.
Weaving is completing the family picture, playing his father, Tom. Gibson has been shooting in Australia with backing from Cross Creek. There’s no sign of a release date yet.