“Unraveling the Wings of Fate: How ‘With Wings As Eagles’ Takes Flight in a Turbulent Journey”
Imagine a world where your enemy is not just a faceless combatant, but a complex individual—a steadfast German colonel grappling with his morals amid the chaos of World War II. Welcome to “With Wings as Eagles,” a screenplay that tantalizes us with the idea of subliminal areas where valor meets betrayal. At the precipice of defeat, Colonel Nicholas Von Ostermann finds himself confronted with a chilling order: eliminate 8000 American POWs. Instead, he concocts a daring plan to this captive bunch escape, zigzagging through loyalty, trust, and the haunting specter of loss.
Written by Randall Wallace, famed for his Oscar-winning screenplay of “Braveheart,” this 1997 script had the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger hungry to take on such a meaty role. But like many ambitious Hollywood dreams, it failed to reach fruition—leaving us to ponder: what happens when a hero’s path traverses murky moral waters? With compelling characters and a narrative rich in conflict, this forgotten gem from the ’90s offers a unique twist on traditional war story tropes.
Join me as we explore the gripping saga that could have been—and what it reveals about storytelling in the tumultuous landscape of wartime narratives. If you’ve got a flair for drama and a curiosity about the creative process, you won’t want to miss this discussion. Want to dive deeper? LEARN MORE.
Genre: Drama/Action/WW2
Premise: At the tail end of World War 2, a German war hero is tasked with exterminating 8000 American POWs… but instead helps them escape.
About: Today’s screenplay takes us back to the fruitful screenwriting decade that was the 1990s. Randall Wallace was one of the hottest screenwriters in the world. Just two years previous, in 1995, his movie, “Braveheart,” would capture audiences everywhere and go on to win the Oscar for Best Picture. Today’s 1997 Wallace script had Arnold Schwarzzeneger eagerly ready to commit. However, after Arnold changed his mind, the project never picked up enough steam again to make it to the finish line.
Writer: Randall Wallace
Details: 109 pages
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