The United States military wasn’t desegregated until after WWII. Before that, Black soldiers were forbidden from serving alongside whites, and we have seen many films chronicling the stories of these men who fought and died for a country that did not see them as equals. Steven Luke’s Come Out Fighting is another, centering on the African-American soldiers of the 761st Tank Battalion, known on the battlefield as The Black Panthers.
Come Out Fighting is taken from the unit’s insignia and motto, which was distinctive compared to other battalions. The film stars Michael Jai White, Tyrese Gibson, Kellan Lutz, Hiram H. Murray, and Dolph Lundgren, with Luke bringing a lot of star power to this story of a dangerous rescue mission behind enemy lines.
Here’s the synopsis: Set during WWII, in this military adventure, a small, specialized squad of U.S. Army African American soldiers are sent on an unofficial rescue mission behind enemy lines to locate their missing commanding officer. The squad upon battling their way through the German defenses encounter more then they bargain for when they locate a downed U.S. Army fighter pilot. With the help of their friends at the 761st tank battalion, known as “The Black Panthers,” the squad must find a way to survive and make it back in one piece.
Luke has had a singular focus on war movies, directing such films as Operation Seawolf, Battle of the Bulge: Winter War, and The Great War. He has also appeared in a number of films, including War Pigs alongside Lundgren.
Come Out Fighting hits theaters and VOD on May 19th.
