"This project was an opportunity to write an open love letter to the men who served and suffered during World War II…"
Screenwriter Billy Ray.

When Nicholas Katzenbach walked around the film set of 'Hart's War', built on 400 acres outside Prague, it was a different experience than when he was held captive as a prisoner of war for 27 months in a prisoner of war camp during World War II.

It was his experiences during the 27 months that inspired his son John to write a novel, which in turn inspired Terry George ('In The Name of the Father') to co-write the screenplay with Billy Ray ('Volcano') and director Gregory Hoblit ('Frequency', "Primal Fear' and 'Fallen') to helm the project.

"As my father grew older, I realised we had never really spoken about his POW ordeal," says author John Katzenbach, who has been a criminal reporter for The Miami Herald and Miami News and a featured writer for the Herald's Tropic Magazine.

"I began asking questions about that period of his life. As a writer and storyteller I started to see that some of the things he told me could be developed into an interesting and thrilling suspense story, a mystery," says Katzenbach. "It wasn't long before I sat down and wrote the opening lines of 'Hart's War"."

Katzenbach viewed the POW camp not only as a strong setting for a thriller, but saw the story as a testament to the difficulties his father endured. By writing Hart's War Katzenbach was able to both dramatise the courage and heroism displayed by American prisoners-of-war and to honour his father, who has been and inspiration to him throughout his life.

How did the novel end up in the can? 

Producers David Ladd and David Foster were separately sent early chapters of Katzenbach's novel. Each, unbeknownst to the other, immediately spoke to different people at MGM about the exciting project.

"The challenge in development was blending all the book's marvellous issues and suspense into one cohesive piece," says Ladd. "We needed to condense a large, detailed and rich narrative into a two-hour film while preserving the novel's spirit and integrity."

After positive drafts of the scripts were written by Jeb Stuart and Terry George, writer Billy Ray was brought in to write the final draft that led to production.

"This project was an opportunity to write an open love letter to the men who served and suffered during World War II, a cinematic tip of the hat," says Billy Ray, an avid student of military history.

Ray exhaustively researched the day-to-day lives of soldiers and the hardships of men in captivity, citing such references as 'The Greatest Generation' by Tom Brokaw, 'Goodbye Darkness' by W. Manchester, and 'Stalag Luft III … The Secret Story' by Arthur Durand.

"I belong to the first generation of American men who were never called to serve," says Ray, "and have always felt grateful, yet guilt-ridden about it. The awe I feel for those veterans grows as I get older and their achievements become crystallised in history."

Director Hoblit was attracted to the project  by its well written, relevant, and densely packed story. "I was drawn to the script because it addresses political and social issues that are as pertinent today as they were then. I also thought the story was loaded with wonderful characters whose lives I wanted to explore. The most enjoyable thing for me as a director is working with great words and great actors, people just talking to each other."

Willis was immediately attracted to the role of Col. McNamara, who is imprisoned in the POW camp and plans to strike back at the enemy. "I've been a student of WWII for a long time and thought this was a great script," says Willis.  "Taut and exciting."