Christian Bale

Christian Bale ("Batman Begins") and Steve Zahn ("Joy Ride") have been cast in the action-drama "Rescue Dawn," Variety reports.

Bale will play Dieter Dengler, a real-life U.S. fighter pilot who was shot down and captured in Laos during the Vietnam War.

Zahn will take on the role of a POW that Bale's character helps escape along with a few other soldiers.

Werner Herzog will direct the feature which is based on the German helmer's 1977 documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly."

Shooting is set to begin in Thailand next month.

Bale will next be seen in director Terrence Malick's "The New World" and Zahn's voice will be heard in the animated feature "Chicken Little."

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