Michael Bay will direct a military drama for Universal Pictures based on the April rescue of two U.S. Air Force crew members whose F-15E Strike Eagle was downed in Iran. The film will adapt a forthcoming book by Mitchell Zuckoff scheduled for release in 2027.

Scott Gardenhour will write the screenplay, with Bay and Erwin Stoff producing. The project reunites Bay with Zuckoff, whose earlier book Bay adapted into the 2016 film 13 Hours.

The rescue mission in April recovered two service members after their fighter jet went down in Iran. President Donald Trump described the operation in April as "one of most daring search-and-rescue operations in US history."

In a statement at the time, Trump said, "WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!"

The rescue took place during Operation Epic Fury, a military action against Iran that Trump approved starting in February 2026. Bay has previously collaborated with the U.S. military on productions to add realism to his films, including the Transformers series, Pearl Harbor, and 13 Hours.

The 2016 release of 13 Hours, which starred John Krasinski, became one of Bay's lowest-grossing films. Film critic Peter Bradshaw gave the film a two-star review, writing that it was "like playing Call of Duty for 72 hours straight – only without the subtlety and insight." Bay's 2022 film Ambulance, led by Jake Gyllenhaal, was a box office disappointment. In 2024, Bay had been attached to direct an action film starring Will Smith, but the project fell apart due to reported creative differences.