Chris Pratt Brings Army Chaplain’s Story to Big Screen: ‘An Honor’

Published: October 11, 2024

Chris Pratt Brings Army Chaplain’s Story to Big Screen: ‘An Honor’

Movieguide® Contributor

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY’s Chris Pratt is slated to executive produce FIGHTING SPIRIT: A COMBAT CHAPLAIN’S JOURNEY, a documentary directed by Rich Hull and former combat chaplain Justin D. Roberts.

“Marking the first-ever co-production between Hollywood and the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, FIGHTING SPIRIT’s story begins when the remains of prisoner-of-war and Army combat chaplain Emil Kapaun are identified after 70 years, with much of our nation being captivated by their journey home,” Deadline reported. “As a younger former chaplain unexpectedly embarks on his own journey to greet them, he becomes inspired by the untold stories of the 419 U.S. military chaplain heroes who’ve given their lives for this unique calling. As the paths of these combat chaplains from different eras finally collide, we’re reminded how the profound weight of history and the immense power of love can converge to produce a life-changing healing.”

U.S. Army chaplain Kapaun ministered to soldiers as a POW in the Korean War. He ignored his own suffering to focus on others’. The chaplain passed away as a POW in 1951. After death, he was awarded the U.S. Armed Forces Medal of Honor.

The doc’s website highlights the importance of military chaplains, as suicide is the main cause of death among U.S. military personnel. “And combat chaplains are on the frontlines of that battle” as they help soldiers remember they have a soul worth saving.

“Also new to the project is Falling Forward Films, the outfit led by distribution veteran Scott Kennedy, which will release the film in theaters for Veterans Day. Pic will unspool in over 20 major U.S. markets, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Dallas, on November 8,” Deadline said.

“Hull also wrote for the doc and produced alongside Daniel Schnider. Executive producers are Michael Sullivan and Tom Gibbons, CSP for Paulist Productions, and Pratt and Justin D. Roberts. Co-producers are Holly Stocking, David Moore, and Brandon R. Moore,” Deadline reported.

The feature documentary recently visited the Vatican with a special screening.

Hull said, “To screen this film at The Vatican was a once-in-a-lifetime honor. I am so grateful to Pope Francis and the team at The Vatican for such an incredible opportunity. This also makes my Catholic mother very happy.”

Executive producer Pratt has taken on several military acting roles and is a proud supporter when it comes to highlighting the incredible stories of America’s servicemen.

“I’m so excited for audiences to see this film theatrically on Veterans Day,” Pratt said. “The work done by combat chaplains to support our soldiers through issues of life and death on the frontlines is truly extraordinary, and to be part of celebrating this story of a chaplain’s journey in such a cinematic way is an honor.”

“Chris Pratt is an icon of the big screen, and to see him spark to our film so genuinely is an incredible compliment,” Hull said. “We’re so grateful to partner with him, along with Scott Kennedy, Bryce Campbell, and our friends at Falling Forward Films, to bring this unique story to theaters on November 8th.”

Movieguide® previously reported on Pratt’s Memorial Day activities:

In a 2021 post commemorating the holiday, Pratt shared a series of images of people grieving the loss of fallen military personnel.

“Please, look at each one. Pause, give them your consideration,” Pratt urged his followers. “America’s exceptional armed forces have altered the course of the world for the better. From the Union Army defeating slave owning confederates, to the Greatest Generation and her Allies vanquishing the Nazis or our special operators hunting down the perpetrators of 9/11.”

He continued, “We count the names of each fallen solider lest they be countless. They are the good guys. They run to the sound of gunfire. They know pain and suffering we never will. They have given us the most free and decent society planet earth has ever seen. We run the risk of losing that decency when we fail to instill gratitude in the minds of our youth or the perspective of what it actually means to be free- should they never learn of the selfless sacrifice of our armed service members in the face of oppressive evil.”