Los Angeles: Actress Kate Mara is set to star as Iraq war hero Megan Leavey in upcoming biopic directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite.
Gabriella will helm the project with a script by Pamela Gray ("Conviction") with rewrites by Annie Mumolo ("Joy"), Tim Lovestedt and Jordan Roberts ("Big Hero 6"), reported Ace Showbiz.
Mickey Liddell of LD Entertainment ("The Grey") will produce the movie along with Jennifer Hilton Monroe ("Disconnect") and Pete Shilaimon ("Anthropoid"). Production will begin in October.
The Megan Leavey biopic is a follow-up to Gabriela acclaimed documentary "Blackfish", which focuses on Tilikum, an orca held by SeaWorld and the controversy over captive killer whales.
Megan was a member of a K-9 bomb-sniffing unit who was teamed with a German shepherd sniffer named Rex. Megan and Rex formed a powerful bond and later served two tours in Iraq together, finishing more than 100 missions which saved many lives.
In 2006, the duo were injured in an explosion. Megan later received a purple heart and was discharged from the Marines while Rex was kept on active duty. Megan had to wait five years to adopt Rex.
She fought hard to save him when he was going to be euthanized. She took care of Rex until his death in 2012.
