Iran war that isn’t over yet…Michael Bay is already turning it into a movie—an operation to rescue U.S. forces is set for a sudden Hollywood adaptation

A grueling 36-hour struggle to rescue pilots of the 'F-15E Strike Eagle' that were shot down during the U.S. military operation 'Shattered Fury'. This unprecedented rescue operation returns to screens worldwide under the helm of director 'Michael Bay'.

A war still under way—and the commercial and political 'Hollywood' moving fast

With the U.S.-Iran war not yet over, 'Hollywood', the hub of the global film industry, is showing unusually swift action. According to a report by the U.S. entertainment outlet Deadline on Jan. 21 (local time), Universal Pictures is joining forces with director 'Michael Bay', a master of the 'Transformers' series, to urgently turn into a film the operation to rescue U.S. Air Force pilots whose aircraft were shot down in Iran.

The British daily The Times analyzed that “it is extremely rare for 'Hollywood' to move this quickly while the war has not yet ended,” adding that “the dramatic narrative of rescuing the downed U.S. troops strongly spurred 'Michael Bay'’s project.” It is a bold move that completely flips the usual practice of producing war films years after the end of hostilities.

A 36-hour struggle, and hidden American-style heroism in the 'Shattered Fury' operation

Earlier, during a U.S. military operation 'Shattered Fury' against Iran, the 'F-15E Strike Eagle', an Air Force aircraft, faced an unprecedented situation last month when it was shot down by Iranian forces. Amid a desperate crisis in the middle of enemy territory, with a fighter pilot and a weapons-system officer crashing, U.S. troops carried out a daring, high-pressure rescue operation lasting up to 36 hours, pulling them back safely in a feat of miracle.

'Michael Bay' assessed the project, saying, “It will be one of the most complex and high-risk rescue operations in recent history,” and he said he hopes it “will become an overwhelming work that honors the true heroism and unwavering dedication of the soldiers who answered the call.”

A $10 billion box office myth, 'Michael Bay'’s return

For the past three decades, 'Michael Bay' has worked closely with the U.S. military to produce major blockbusters such as 'The Rock', 'Armageddon', 'Pearl Harbor', and 'Transformers'. The worldwide box office earnings of films he directed or produced total $10 billion (about 15.18 trillion won). With this project getting under way before the haze of war even clears, eyes across the global film industry are focused on what landmark mark it will leave on his filmography.