Reacher Star Alan Ritchson Returns to Australia for Amazon MGM’s Navy SEAL War Epic on Medal of Honor Hero Mike Thornton

By ultapaltakhabar Jan 8, 2026 0

Alan Ritchson begins filming an untitled Amazon MGM Studios feature in Queensland this month, portraying legendary Navy SEAL Mike Thornton in a high-octane survival drama backed by Sylvester Stallone and directed by Patrick Hughes.

Hollywood action heavyweight Alan Ritchson is officially heading back to Australia—and this time, the stakes are higher, the scale is bigger, and the story is rooted in real-life heroism.

According to Screen Queensland, Ritchson is returning to the Gold Coast, Queensland, to begin production on an untitled Amazon MGM Studios feature based on the extraordinary true story of decorated U.S. Navy SEAL Mike Thornton, a man whose bravery in the South China Sea earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Principal photography is set to begin this month at Village Roadshow Studios, cementing Queensland’s growing reputation as one of the world’s most in-demand destinations for large-scale Hollywood productions.

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Alan Ritchson’s Big Australia Comeback

This project marks Alan Ritchson’s return to Queensland following his recent action thriller Runner, which was shot across Brisbane and the Gold Coast in 2025. Clearly, Australia has become a creative home base for the Reacher star, who continues to dominate the action genre across both streaming and theatrical releases.

Fresh off the success of Reacher and his high-profile appearance in Fast X, Ritchson is now stepping into one of the most demanding roles of his career—bringing to life a real-world military hero whose story is as cinematic as it is inspirational.

Who Was Mike Thornton?

Mike Thornton’s story is the stuff of legend.

A highly decorated Navy SEAL, Thornton received the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary actions during combat in the South China Sea, where he carried out a near-impossible rescue under extreme conditions. His survival, leadership, and unwavering courage turned him into one of the most respected figures in U.S. military history.

The film will chronicle Thornton’s real-life survival story, focusing on both the physical intensity of the mission and the emotional toll of combat—an approach that suggests the project aims to balance explosive action with grounded human drama.

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Patrick Hughes Takes the Director’s Chair

The film will be directed by Patrick Hughes, the Australian filmmaker behind high-energy titles like The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Hughes is no stranger to large-scale action, practical stunts, and muscular storytelling—making him a natural fit for a Navy SEAL epic.

Expressing his excitement, Hughes praised Queensland as the ideal filming destination.

“The Gold Coast offers world-class crews, facilities, and locations, making it an ideal home for a production of this scale,” he said, adding that he was thrilled to collaborate with Screen Queensland to bring the film to life.

A Strong Supporting Cast Joins Ritchson

Ritchson won’t be carrying the film alone. The project also stars:

Joe Cole, known for Subversion and A Prayer Before Dawn
Hoa Xuande, who recently appeared in The Sympathizer and Avatar: The Last Airbender

The casting suggests a character-driven war film rather than a one-man action vehicle, with strong performances expected alongside the large-scale combat sequences.

Sylvester Stallone Backs the Project

Adding serious Hollywood muscle behind the scenes is Sylvester Stallone, who is producing the film through Balboa Productions, alongside D. Matt Geller.

The producing team also includes:

Todd Lieberman and Alex Young (Hidden Pictures)
Alan Ritchson’s own AllyCat Entertainment
Alan Rautbort

Executive producers are Valerie Bleth Sharp and Mike Thornton himself, ensuring authenticity and respect for the real-life events portrayed.

With Stallone—no stranger to war narratives like Rambo—involved as a producer, expectations are high for a gritty, emotionally charged, and technically ambitious film.

A Powerhouse Writing Team

The screenplay is penned by an impressive trio:

Mark Semos (SEAL Team, Y: Marshals)
Alan Ritchson
Jason Hall (American Sniper, Thank You for Your Service)

Jason Hall’s involvement is particularly notable, given his track record for handling military stories with emotional depth and realism. Combined with Ritchson’s hands-on participation in the script, the film is expected to strike a balance between authenticity and cinematic intensity.

Queensland Wins Big Again

The project has been secured for Queensland through Screen Queensland’s Production Strategy and the Australian federal government’s Location Offset, with additional support from:

Queensland Government’s Production Attraction Strategy
City of Gold Coast’s Screen Attraction Program

Acting Minister for the Arts Tim Nicholls highlighted the project’s economic impact, calling it a strong sign of momentum for Queensland’s screen industry heading into 2026.

“This latest project for Amazon MGM Studios will create employment for around 260 local cast and crew while injecting an estimated AUD 50 million (USD 33.5 million) into the Queensland economy,” Nicholls said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to keeping Queensland as Australia’s top screen production hub.

Why Queensland Keeps Winning Hollywood

Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney emphasized that the state’s reputation for handling complex military and water-based productions played a major role in bringing the film back to Australia.

“Queensland crews have an internationally renowned reputation for delivering complex action films and series,” she said, adding that it’s a strong way to kick off the new year with such an ambitious production at Village Roadshow Studios.

With experienced crews, advanced facilities, and diverse locations, Queensland has quietly become a favorite for studios looking to mount technically demanding productions outside Hollywood.

Part of Amazon MGM’s Growing Australia Slate

The Mike Thornton project joins a rapidly expanding list of Amazon MGM Studios productions in Queensland, including:

Balls Up
The Bluff
Voltron
Subversion

This growing slate underlines Amazon MGM’s long-term commitment to Australia as a production base—and signals that more global projects could be on the way.

What This Means for Alan Ritchson

For Alan Ritchson, this film represents another strategic step in redefining his career. From television dominance with Reacher to blockbuster franchises and now a prestige military biopic, Ritchson is positioning himself as one of Hollywood’s most reliable modern action stars.

Portraying a real-life Medal of Honor recipient is no small responsibility—and if executed well, this role could mark one of the most critically respected performances of his career.

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Final Word

With a compelling true story, a star-driven cast, heavyweight producers, and Australia’s world-class production ecosystem, this untitled Mike Thornton film is shaping up to be one of Amazon MGM Studios’ most ambitious action dramas yet.

As cameras roll on the Gold Coast, all eyes will be on how this powerful tale of courage, survival, and sacrifice comes to life—and whether Alan Ritchson can once again deliver an action performance that resonates far beyond the battlefield.

Stay tuned to UltaPaltaKhabar.com for more updates from the sets, casting news, and behind-the-scenes buzz from Hollywood’s biggest productions.

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