Mel Gibson may have ‘off-the-field’ issues, but there’s no denying that the dude knows what he’s doing when a camera is around, both in-front of and behind. Gibson has had many hit films in the past that still stand tall today, but for many of us ‘movie nerds’, we geek out when he sits in that director’s chair. Braveheart and Apocalypto are two phenomenal films, which is why we are so damn excited that Gibson is back behind the camera with Hacksaw Ridge.

Based on a true story, Hacksaw Ridge follows WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield). Although he refused to kill people, he became the first Conscientious Objector in American history to win the Congressional Medal of Honor after saving 75 men during the Battle of Okinawa, where he was also wounded by a grenade and shot by a sniper. The film also stars Vince Vaughn as a “a non-commissioned officer from Alabama whose job is to make sure the soldiers are ready for battle,” Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey, and Sam Worthington.

This is the kind of film that gets me really excited. Not only am I really looking forward to finally seeing Mel Gibson back as a director after a decade, but I’m a total sucker for war movies, especially when they’re based on a true story. I never knew about Doss or his story before this film, but it’s something that’s really, really interesting. This is what Gibson is best at as a director, a deep and impactful story, it should play out as some great stuff on screen.

Hacksaw Ridge has a 2016 release date. Directed by Mel Gibson starring Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey, and Sam Worthington.