Michael Bay sets sights on real-life Iran rescue operation for next film

Universal Pictures is partnering with director Michael Bay to bring to the screen the true story behind a recent high-risk U.S. military rescue operation in Iran, focusing on the recovery of two downed airmen during Operation Epic Fury.

According to sources cited by Deadline, Bay is developing a feature film centred on the mission that rescued the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle after it was shot down behind enemy lines. The project will be based on an upcoming book by Mitchell Zuckoff, scheduled for publication by HarperCollins in 2027.

The incident occurred in early April, roughly a month after the launch of Operation Epic Fury. Following the downing of the aircraft in Iran’s Zagros Mountains, the U.S. military carried out a large-scale rescue operation. The mission successfully extracted both the pilot and the weapons systems officer from hostile territory, drawing global attention for its complexity and execution.

The operation quickly captured Bay’s interest as he considered his next directing project. The filmmaker most recently directed Ambulance for Universal Pictures and maintains a production deal with the studio, making it a natural home for the film once he committed to the project.

The production will reunite Bay with producers Scott Gardenhour and Erwin Stoff. The trio previously collaborated on 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, another film based on real-life events. Bay, Stoff, and Gardenhour are all set to produce the new project.

Over the course of nearly three decades, Bay has worked closely with the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies on multiple films, including The Rock, Bad Boys, and Armageddon. His collaborations have been particularly notable on projects such as Pearl Harbor, the Transformers franchise, and 13 Hours, where military leadership provided extensive logistical support, equipment, and personnel to ensure authenticity in portraying U.S. Armed Forces operations.

Commenting on the new film, Bay told Deadline: “I’ve had an amazing partnership over my 30-year career working with the Department of War and amazing U.S. military members. In my film 13 Hours, no rescue force answered the call for help. This film is about everyone who answered the call in one of the most complex, intricate and high-stakes operations in recent history. It celebrates the true heroism and unwavering dedication of our service members.”

Zuckoff, a communications professor at Boston University, is also known for his 2014 book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi, which he co-wrote with surviving members of the security team involved in the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. That book served as the basis for Bay’s earlier film The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.

Collectively, films directed or produced by Bay have generated approximately $10 billion at the global box office, underscoring his commercial impact and longstanding presence in large-scale action filmmaking.

By Tamilla Hasanova