Actress Kate Mara attended the premiere of Lionsgate Premiere's “Man Down” at ArcLight Hollywood on Nov. 30, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Matt Winkelmeyer)
Kate Mara-starring Iraq war hero drama biopic "Megan Leavey" gets a summer U.S. release date. Bleecker Street has acquired the U.S. distribution and plans a June 9 release.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mara plays a young marine corporal Leavey in the K9 unit in "Megan Leavey." The unique discipline and bond with her military combat dog named Rex saved many lives during their deployment in Iraq.
Bleecker Street bought the true-life story of "Megan Leavey," which was originally titled "Leavey," directed by "Blackfish" helmer Gabriela Cowperthwaite from LD Entertainment, Variety reported. It recently released the Adam Driver starrer "Paterson" and will soon release the adventure film "The Lost City of Z" with Amazon, starring Tom Holland and Charlie Hunnam.
Mara joins the stars "The Comedian" actress Edie Falco, "Need for Speed" actor Ramon Rodriguez, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" actor Bradley Whitford, and "John Wick: Chapter 2" actor Common in "Megan Leavey." The screenplay is penned by Pamela Gray and the team of Annie Mumolo and Tim Lovestedt. Producers are Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon, and Jennifer Monroe.
"Megan Leavey" recounts Leavey's life following the death of her best friend to enlisting in the Marine Corps. When she is assigned to clean up the K9 unit after a disciplinary hearing, she identifies with a particularly aggressive dog, Rex, and is given the chance to train him.
In the plot of "Megan Leavey", despite the dog's disposition, Leavey and Rex formed a powerful bond, serving two tours together and completing more than 100 missions until an IED explosion injured them in 2006. Afterwards, Leavey received a purple heart and was discharged after her recovery, while Rex was kept on active duty.
Leavey spent the next five years fighting to adopt Rex even as he was scheduled to be put to sleep after developing a palsy. Ultimately succeeding, she was able to care for Rex until his death at age 11 in 2012.
The deal for "Megan Leavey" biopic was negotiated between Kent Sanderson of Bleecker Street with Avy Eschenasy on behalf of Bleecker Street and attorney Eric Thompson and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.
Watch the video about Kate Mara starring in the biopic about Iraq war hero "Megan Leavey":
