We are excited to announce that Ben Affleck will direct and star in a Ghost Army movie based on our historian, Rick Beyer’s book, The Ghost Army of World War II, which he co-wrote with Liz Sayles, and his award-winning PBS documentary, The Ghost Army, which he he produced and directed.
As reported in Variety:
Ben Affleck will star in and direct the Universal Pictures caper “Ghost Army,” based on the book “The Ghost Army of World War II,” written by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles, as well as the documentary “Ghost Army.”
It’s unclear when the movie will go into production as it’s still in development and Affleck is expected to rework the screenplay. The latest script was written by Nic Pizzolatto (HBO’s “True Detective”), with an earlier draft by Henry Gayden (“Shazam!”).
The film tells the true story of a squadron of recruits from art schools, ad agencies and other creative businesses who were tasked with fooling the Nazis into thinking the U.S. had larger troop numbers than it actually did. The book follows a group of young GIs, including fashion designer Bill Blass, painter Ellsworth Kelly, artist Arthur Singer, photographer Art Kane, and others, who conduct a secret mission. Their job was to create a traveling road show of deception, armed with inflatable tanks and sound-effects records.
Read Ben Affleck to Star in and Direct World War II Caper ‘Ghost Army’ on Variety>>
History with Mark Bielski Ghost Army Podcasts
Historian Mark Bielski did a two-part interview with Rick for his History with Mark Bielski podcast. They discuss the 23rd HQ Special Troops, an outfit that later became known as the Ghost Army, and the series of deception operations that took place once we had American troops on the ground in Europe. Rick gives an excellent portrayal of the vital and technologically amazing work this unit produced in WWII. Wizardry is a more than apt term for it and one need not wonder why the U.S. Army kept it under wraps for so long.
Listen to Ghost Army – Part I>>
Listen to Ghost Army – Part II>>
Travel with Rick Beyer on the Ghost Army Tour!
Rick leads our Ghost Army of WWII: Secret War Tour. This is a special edition of our popular D-Day to the Rhine Tour. As you follow the path of the American boys who liberated Europe, you will also discover the top-secret story of the deception troops known as “the Ghost Army” who made their own important contribution to ultimate victory.
The itinerary includes key sites in Great Britain, a channel crossing, the Normandy Beaches, the besieged city of Bastogne and much more.
Travel with Rick on the Ghost Army Tour>>
