Trimax Developing ‘Father Kapaun’s Valley’, Tale Of Korean War Hero Based On New John Stansifer Book; Stephen Campanelli On Board To Direct

EXCLUSIVE: Trimax Media, the production company led by Alan Glazer (The Bank Job), has acquired film rights to No Bullet Got Me Yet, John Stansifer’s forthcoming book about U.S. Army Chaplain, Father Emil Kapaun.

Stansifer has scripted the film adaptation, titled Father Kapaun’s Valley, which Stephen Campanelli (Drinkwater) is attached to direct. The intention with the project is to help fill the void when it comes to U.S.-produced films about the Korean War, while spotlighting a little-known war hero currently on the path to sainthood. Set to produce are Glazer and Stansifer, whose book is slated for publication on March 12, 2024.

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The most decorated chaplain in U.S. military history, Kapaun regularly risked his life during the Korean War to help soldiers survive, also taking great pains to support them in their faith, no matter their religion. Among the most notable incidents from his military history was the time when he was captured by Chinese forces at the Battle of Unsan, while serving as the 8th Regiment Chaplain of the 1st Cavalry in November 1950, and held as a POW. Kapaun provided countless hours of prayer, as well as what little food he could scavenge, to prevent his fellow soldiers from starving to death, though he himself died in captivity on May 23, 1951. His remains were found and positively identified through DNA testing in 2021, after being listed as MIA for 70 years.

For his actions at the Battle of Unsan, Kapaun was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013. Pope John Paul II declared him a Servant of God, the first stage on the path to canonization, and in 2015, the Catholic Diocese of Wichita officially presented Father Kapaun’s Cause for Canonization to the Vatican, making a strong case for his recognition as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. If approved, he would be the first male saint born in the U.S. and the Patron Saint of POW-MIAs.

Said Trimax’s Glazer in a statement to Deadline, “John Stansifer has dedicated the last 15 years to this project and is extremely passionate about telling the story of Father Kapaun. His screenplay is filled with so much information about the Korean War and the courage of Father Kapaun. As a storyteller I’m thrilled to finally be able to share the life of Father Kapaun and his heroic actions during the Korean War – no longer the war that Hollywood has forgotten about.”

Pic’s director, Campanelli, noted that “Father Kapaun was an incredible man of faith and courage. When I first heard about this story I was immediately captivated, and the thought of making a movie about him has been with me for years. When John and Alan brought me a script and asked me to direct it, I was honored and immediately all-in.”

Added author, screenwriter and producer Stansifer, “As audiences can see from his extensive work with Clint Eastwood, Stephen Campanelli not only has an amazing eye, he is an incredible storyteller. For his part, Alan Glazer has been a huge advocate of this story from the first day we met, and I’m excited to partner with Trimax on this. Father Kapaun’s story is powerful because it says so much about faith, courage and the ties that bind us all together as human beings.”

A longtime veteran of Eastwood’s crew, who has worked with him as second unit director and/or camera and Steadicam operator — including on his forthcoming Warner Bros pic Juror #2 — Campanelli’s directing credits include the coming-of-age comedy Drinkwater, Nicolas Cage thriller Grand Isle, and the action thriller Momentum with Olga Kurlyenko, James Purefoy and Morgan Freeman, among other projects.

A veteran of Mosaic Media who worked alongside founder Charles Roven for an extended period, Glazer launched the L.A.-based shingle Trimax in 2013, expanding the company with the management division, Ignited Management, in 2022. Previously, he’s served as an executive producer for titles including the sci-fi horror pic Open Grave starring Sharlto Copley, the Nicolas Cage-led fantasy Season of the Witch, Tom Tykwer’s crime actioner The International starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, Jason Statham thriller The Bank Job, and the mockumentary Live! with Eva Mendes. Glazer has also co-produced 2008’s Get Smart with Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, as well as multiple films in the Scooby-Doo franchise, and served as an associate producer on the films Three Kings and City of Angels.

Stansifer is represented where his book is concerned by WME, and by Ignited Management for everything else. Glazer is repped by Pierce Law Group.

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