Actor Jim Caviezel believes audiences are actively seeking out heroic figures, a sentiment he feels is reflected in his upcoming action film, "Ghost Soldier." The movie features Caviezel as Henry "Fitz" Fitzgerald, a former Special Forces soldier and weapons developer who is compelled to defend his hometown from a land-grabbing foreign corporation.
"People want to see someone do the right thing, with all the odds stacked against them," Caviezel told Fox News Digital. "We saw this phenomenon with 'Sound of Freedom.' Give them a hero who stands for what's true and audiences show up. That hunger is still there."
Caviezel identified with his character's strong moral code. "He's a Green Beret who serves his country, and he lives by a moral code he won't break," Caviezel said. "He can't walk away from an injustice, whatever it costs him. I love a good action film, too. But it was Fitz's moral compass and his hunger for justice that made me say yes."
The actor, known for portraying characters with strong convictions like Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ" and Tim Ballard in "Sound of Freedom," stated that taking on such roles has reinforced his belief that "doing the right thing usually costs you something."
"I want to play men who'll sacrifice for what they believe. That's the measure of a man, and it's the story I keep coming back to," he explained. Caviezel also noted a recent "resurgence" in Americans protecting their homes, land, and communities, suggesting "Ghost Soldier" taps into this sentiment.
"Most people resonate with protecting their home, family and community because we were created with the instinct to protect what we love," Caviezel said. "Over the past few years, we've seen ordinary people standing up again, doing the right thing when it's hard. That's the resurgence I see, and this film speaks right to it."
"Ghost Soldier" is scheduled to premiere on November 6. The film also stars Olivia Thirlby, Beau Knapp, Garret Dillahunt, and Shea Whigham.