# Untitled Mike Thornton biopic film
The untitled Mike Thornton biopic film is an upcoming American biographical drama directed by Patrick Hughes for Amazon MGM Studios, starring [Alan Ritchson](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-ritchson) as Michael E. Thornton, the retired Navy SEAL who received the [Medal of Honor](https://www.edgepedia.org/medal-of-honor) for a rescue in the final days of the [Vietnam War](https://www.edgepedia.org/vietnam-war).[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/) The project has no announced title or release date and is being filmed in Queensland, Australia, and Thailand for release on Prime Video.[2](https://talesfromthecollection.com/untitled-navy-seal-project/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / studio | Patrick Hughes; Amazon MGM Studios, streaming on Prime Video[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/) • [2](https://talesfromthecollection.com/untitled-navy-seal-project/) |
| Writers | Mark Semos, Alan Ritchson, and Jason Hall[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/) |
| Producers | Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller (Balboa Productions), Todd Lieberman and [Alex Young](https://www.edgepedia.org/alex-young-studio-executive) (Hidden Pictures), Ritchson's AllyCat Entertainment, and Alan Rautbort[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/) |
| Filming | Principal photography began January 16, 2026, at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast, with Thailand also a filming location[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/) • [2](https://talesfromthecollection.com/untitled-navy-seal-project/) |
| Release date | Not announced[3](https://www.vfxcallsheet.com/portal/untitled-mike-thornton-project) |
## The story the film dramatizes
The film covers a single episode from the end of Thornton's military service. In the final days of the Vietnam War, five men were trapped behind enemy lines in [North Vietnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/north-vietnam), and Thornton, then one of the first Navy SEALs, led a mission to rescue them.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3612980/news/) • [5](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/how-alan-ritchson-reversing-marvelization-of-action-heroes-war-machine-new-navy-seal-movie) Outnumbered by an army of 150 soldiers, the team fought through enemy fire and retreated into the [South China Sea](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-china-sea). Thornton swam for hours through hostile waters with both a gravely wounded lieutenant and a fellow soldier tied to him, an act of valor that earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor.[2](https://talesfromthecollection.com/untitled-navy-seal-project/)
The wounded officer in that episode was Tommy Norris; producer Todd Lieberman of Hidden Pictures has described the film as a true story about Thornton and Norris during the Vietnam War.[6](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/todd-lieberman-the-housemaid-hidden-pictures/) The pair's shared mission is also the subject of the 2016 St. Martin's Press book *By Honor Bound*, which recounts how two Navy SEALs from very different backgrounds were thrown together for a single combat mission that defined their lives.[7](https://macmillan-services.supadu.com/macmillan-us/maccatalog/assets/previous/SMP_Spring-2016_07_2015.pdf)
## Production
The project was announced in September 2025, when Patrick Hughes was set to direct with Ritchson in the lead; it falls under Ritchson's three-picture acting deal with [Amazon MGM Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/amazon-mgm-studios), the studio that also produces his Prime Video series *Reacher*.[8](https://particle.news/story/alan-ritchson-to-portray-medal-of-honor-seal-mike-thornton-in-amazon-mgm-film) Hughes and Ritchson had just worked together on Netflix's *[War Machine](https://www.edgepedia.org/war-machine-2026-film)*, and Hughes reteamed with Hidden Pictures on the project.[8](https://particle.news/story/alan-ritchson-to-portray-medal-of-honor-seal-mike-thornton-in-amazon-mgm-film) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3612980/news/)
**Filming in Queensland.** Principal photography began on January 16, 2026, at Village Roadshow Studios on the [Gold Coast](https://www.edgepedia.org/gold-coast), marking Ritchson's return to the region after his 2025 thriller *Runner* filmed in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/) Thailand is also listed as a filming location.[2](https://talesfromthecollection.com/untitled-navy-seal-project/) The crew includes director of photography Aaron Morton, first assistant director James McGrady, production managers Sharon Miller and Deborah Glover, and costume designer Jenny Jue.[2](https://talesfromthecollection.com/untitled-navy-seal-project/)
The production is supported by the Australian government through the Location Offset, by the [Queensland](https://www.edgepedia.org/queensland) government through Screen Queensland's Production Attraction Strategy, and by the City of Gold Coast's Screen Attraction Program.[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/) According to Queensland's Acting Minister for the Arts Tim Nicholls, the project will employ around 260 local cast and crew and inject an estimated AUD50 million ($33.5 million) into the Queensland economy.[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/) Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney cited the state's experience with military and water-based productions as a factor in securing the shoot.[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/) The film joins a growing Queensland slate for Amazon MGM Studios that includes *Balls Up*, *The Bluff*, *[Voltron](https://www.edgepedia.org/voltron-film)*, and *[Subversion](https://www.edgepedia.org/subversion-film)*.[1](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/)
## Release status
No release date has been announced. Industry tracking listings show the project in pending status with a shooting start of January 1, 2026, and blank fields for post-production and release dates.[3](https://www.vfxcallsheet.com/portal/untitled-mike-thornton-project) Ritchson's own project listings place the film on Prime Video with a release window of TBA.[9](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/alan-ritchson-huge-new-amazon-mgm-deal-likely-means-lots-more-reacher)
## References
1. [Alan Ritchson Returns to Queensland to Begin Filming Sylvester Stallone-Produced Navy SEAL Pic, Variety Australia (January 8, 2026)](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/alan-ritchson-queensland-sylvester-stallone-navy-seal-31743/)
2. [Last Stand at Sea: The Heroic Saga of Navy Seal Mike Thornton, Tales From The Collection](https://talesfromthecollection.com/untitled-navy-seal-project/)
3. [Untitled Mike Thornton Project, VFX Callsheet](https://www.vfxcallsheet.com/portal/untitled-mike-thornton-project)
4. [Mike Thornton - News, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3612980/news/)
5. [How Alan Ritchson Is Reversing The 'Marvelization' Of Action Heroes With War Machine And New Navy SEAL Movie, CinemaBlend (March 12, 2026)](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/how-alan-ritchson-reversing-marvelization-of-action-heroes-war-machine-new-navy-seal-movie)
6. [Todd Lieberman on How 'The Housemaid' Became a Theatrical Hit and What's Next for Hidden Pictures, TheWrap (March 5, 2026)](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/todd-lieberman-the-housemaid-hidden-pictures/)
7. [By Honor Bound, St. Martin's Press Spring 2016 catalog](https://macmillan-services.supadu.com/macmillan-us/maccatalog/assets/previous/SMP_Spring-2016_07_2015.pdf)
8. [Alan Ritchson to Portray Medal of Honor SEAL Mike Thornton in Amazon MGM Film, Particle](https://particle.news/story/alan-ritchson-to-portray-medal-of-honor-seal-mike-thornton-in-amazon-mgm-film)
9. [Alan Ritchson Just Landed A Huge New Deal That Likely Means A Lot More Reacher, CinemaBlend (May 27, 2026)](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/alan-ritchson-huge-new-amazon-mgm-deal-likely-means-lots-more-reacher)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Drama and biographical films (individual works) › Upcoming drama films 2027 onward*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license