If we are not going to see a sequel of the hit Netflix film “Extraction” made by Sam Hargrave, we will still another movie that he will be directing. According to Deadline, MGM is going to produce the film adaptation of the New York Times Bestseller “Alone At Dawn” that will be called “Combat Control” and it is based on the story of John Chapman, a Combat Controller in the United States Air Force who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

“Jarhead” star Jake Gyllenhaal will be playing the lead role and at the same time an executive producer. Hargrave will be joined by longtime collaborator Shelby Malone as associate producer.

“Alone At Dawn”, which was written by Dan Schilling and Lori Chapman Longfritz was nabbed in a bidding war by Hideaway Entertainment. The manuscript of the book was first brought to the attention of Hollywood producers Ron West of Thruline Entertainment who is involved in the film project as producer. For the screen adaptation of the book as “Combat Control” Michael Russell Gunn was hired to write the script and Dan Schilling, who is a Combat Controller himself, is also involved as military consultant.

 Air Force Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman (US Air Force Photo)

“Combat Control” is about the last stand put up by Jack Chapman during the Battle of Takur Ghar, Afghanistan in 4-5 March 2020. American special operations units sought to occupy Takur Ghar as part of Operation Anaconda succeeding but not after being assaulted directly by Al Qaeda. It is also known as the Battle of Roberts Ridge named after Navy SEAL Neil C. Roberts who was the first casualty of the battle. Seven U.S. service men were killed whilst 12 others were wounded.

During an insertion on top of mountain top, the chopper that Chapman and his team were in got hit by rocket propelled grenades with Roberts thrown out of the chopper. The team survived in a controlled crash and Chapman directed another chopper to pick them and they volunteered to go back to the area in an attempt to rescue Roberts. According to Task & Purpose, Chapman charged forward and singled-handedly captured a bunker which allowed the rest of the team to take cover. He was then wounded and got unconscious as the battle continued. He was assumed to have been killed and the team leader ordered the rest of the surviving members to move to a new position. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross.

An investigation of the battle concluded that Chapman kept on fighting even as he was assumed to be dead which prevented the enemy from having the opportunity to shoot down another chopper loaded with a quick reaction force.

Air Force Capt. Cora Alexander investigated whether the Chapman is worth for an upgrade to the Medal of Honor. It was concluded that he was alive and kept on fighting, preventing the enemy from having the opportunity to shoot down another chopper loaded with a quick reaction force. On 22 August 2018, Chapman was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump.

The Predator drone footage of the battle is the first ever Medal of Honor recorded as shown below:

“Combat Control” is still in the pre-production stage and the full cast still has to be revealed. A lot of things will have to be put into production plan including location shooting and the production crew. Thus, details will be revealed soon as shooting of the film is given the green signal to proceed.

Top photo:  Jake Gyllenhaal inn "Jarhead (Universal Pictures)