So who was the titular hero of this upcoming WWII epic?

He was an all-American millionaire philanthropist who gave up a life of privilege to become the first American pilot killed in action during World War II.

Defying U.S. neutrality, Billy posed as a Canadian and joined the Royal Air Force’s No. 601 ‘Millionaire’s’ Squadron. Within weeks, he was piloting a Hawker Hurricane in the Battle of Britain.

In August 1940, Billy’s plane was badly damaged by gunfire. Rather than ejecting, he attempted to save his aircraft and protect civilians on the ground by landing it. Tragically, he died from his injuries—becoming the first American pilot to make the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.

A hero died, but a legend was born.

The cinematic depiction of Billy’s life will introduce the legend to a new generation of moviegoers. The goal is to reclaim and reintroduce the lost art of moviemaking that once treated film fans to sweeping, multi-location classics such as Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, Ben-Hur, and The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Billy lived a life of opulence before he put honor and sacrifice before privilege. Born into generational wealth, he would become a two-time Bobsled Olympic Gold medalist and the entrepreneur credited with helping make Aspen a world-class ski destination and tourist hotspot. Billy was married to Rose, the Countess of Warwick. His glamorous life calls for glamorous backdrops, and the production team has promised to deliver.

Audiences will follow the story as it jumps between the opulence of St. Moritz, the natural beauty of the Rockies, and the quaint charm of Cambridge, England. When the backdrops aren’t exotic and luxurious, they’ll be sweeping and majestic. In many ways, a metaphor for our hero’s awe-inspiring life.

When Billy hits the big screen, the moment will be bittersweet. While the audience will be treated to a classic WWII epic in the vein of The Longest Day, The Great Escape, and Battle of Britain, the occasion will mark a watershed in Hollywood history: the last true WWII movie.

Rhodes and Conklin aim to create an authentic world free from the soul-sapping, character-destroying special effects that Hollywood now relies on so religiously. Fiske’s real bobsleds will feature prominently. A 1938 Hawker Hurricane—the plane Billy flew during the Battle of Britain—will almost be a character in its own right. And a real 1940 Messerschmitt will depict the German Stuka that eventually cost our hero his life.

In 1940, Billy Fiske made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of innocent people thousands of miles away from his hometown of Aspen. He gave up a life of riches and privilege for the greater good—and defied his own government in the process. This kind of heroism deserves an authentic biopic that remains true to Billy the person and his monumental story.

For anyone who wants to play a pivotal role in something that transcends the ordinary and honors true heroism, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity awaits.

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