Michael Bay To Direct True Story On Largest Rescue Mission In American History To Save Two Downed Pilots In Iran
Published by Deadline on May 20, 2026
Written by Justin Kroll
“Universal Pictures and director Michael Bay are teaming up to tell the heroic true story behind the recent rescue mission to save two downed pilots behind enemy lines in Iran.
Sources tell Deadline that Bay is developing a feature film chronicling the extraordinary heroism of the two U.S. airmen rescued after their F-15E Strike Eagle was downed during Operation Epic Fury. The film will be based on the upcoming book by Mitchell Zuckoff, which HarperCollins will publish in 2027.
In early April, a month after Operation Epic Fury began, the U.S. military launched a massive, successful rescue operation in the Zagros Mountains of Iran after the jet was shot down. The daring extraction successfully recovered the pilot as well as the weapons system officer from hostile forces behind enemy lines. The mission made global headlines and caught Bay’s eye as he was deciding what might be the next thing he directs. Bay most recently directed Ambulance for Universal and has a production deal with the studio, making it the obvious choice for the package once he was on board.”
Read the full article here.
