The movie will tell the story of the famed Battle of Midway, considered a turning point in America’s battle against Japan. Harrelson is playing Admiral Chester Nimitz, one of the officers who led the American naval fleet to victory in a foray that involved aircraft carriers, destroyers and cruisers.

Evans will play Commander Wade McClusky, who would go on to win a Naval Cross for his role in Midway.

Starlight Entertainment Group and Providence Entertainment Limited are financing the film. The movie will shoot in Montreal with Lionsgate on board to distribute domestically via its Summit Entertainment banner. Bona Film Group will distribute the movie in China. AGC International, the international sales and distribution arm of AGC Studios, sold most of the worldwide rights to Midway at the Cannes Film Festival.

WME-repped Evans is currently shooting Murder Mystery with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston for Netflix. He most recently starred in TNT’s acclaimed limited series The Alienist with Dakota Fanning, and last year played Gaston in Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast.

He is also repped by United Agents in the U.K.