Pearl Harbor Hosts Gala Midway Movie Screening

It was the turning point of the War in the Pacific for the United States Navy, following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. In late 2019, the Battle of Midway is being commemorated in a lavish Hollywood production directed by Roland Emmerich. Special guests will get a sneak peek of the new Midway movie at a red carpet event and screening at Pearl Harbor on October 20. The film opens nationwide on November 8.

The exclusive red carpet event will take place at Sharkey Theater. It’s an invitation-only affair that is expected to include members of the star-studded cast. According to officials from Lionsgate, the film's production company, Emmerich and screenwriter Wes Tooke will be joined by stars Patrick Wilson, Dennis Quaid, and Woody Harrelson, who appear in some of the movie's leading roles. Officials from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam worked with Lionsgate to finalize event details.

In addition to Wilson, Quaid, and Harrelson, Midway also stars Aaron Eckhart, Nick Jonas, and Mandy Moore. With a $100 million budget, Emmerich sought to recreate pivotal moments of the War in the Pacific.

Filmed on Location

SBD-3 Dauntless bombers at the Battle of Midway, 6 June 1942

Adding to the sense of authenticity in the new Midway movie, many of its scenes were shot at Pearl Harbor. Additional scenes were shot in various locations around the Hawaiian Islands, ensuring that the movie accurately depicts the Pacific Theater. Included in the filming locations were the 1900s-era homes at nearby Hickam Field.

Midway follows the American attempts at gaining an upper hand over the Imperial Japanese Navy. The highly-anticipated film is said to span the six months between the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway, and looks into the planning that went into orchestrating the assault.

Owing to the success of American military intelligence, Japan’s code was cracked and details of the planned ambush at Midway were revealed, giving the US Navy the opportunity to orchestrate a sneak attack. The upper hand gained by the Americans was enough to help boost morale across the nation, which had taken a hit after the Pearl Harbor attack.

Midway Movie Characters

The Midway movie features characters including Lieutenant Dick Best, Lieutenant Commander Edwin T. Layton, Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, and Admiral Chester Nimitz. Each of these men played an integral role in the Allied campaign in the Pacific and the downfall of the Japanese Empire. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese officer responsible for orchestrating the attack on Pearl Harbor, is portrayed in Midway, played by Etsushi Toyokawa.

Roland Emmerich’s action movie opens nationwide in advance of Veterans Day weekend.