Chase Stokes thriller 'Valiant One' seeks to honor US military's leadership, sacrifice

The thriller “Valiant One,” from the team behind the faith-based musical “A Week Away,” seeks to honor military members while highlighting the themes of leadership, sacrifice and faith, according to creators and Monarch Media heads Steve Barnett and Alan Powell.
Starring Chase Stokes (“Outer Banks”) and Lana Condor (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”), “Valiant One” tells the story of a routine mission that goes awry when a U.S. Army helicopter crashes deep within North Korean territory. A team of non-combat tech specialists, led by Captain Edward Brockman, are forced to navigate the hostile terrain and fend off North Korean forces as they desperately race to escort a civilian tech specialist across the treacherous Demilitarized Zone.
In an interview with The Christian Post, Barnett, who makes his directorial debut with the film, shared how a chance reunion with an old high school friend — a Navy SEAL master chief — sparked the idea for “Valiant One,” which hit theaters on Jan. 30.
"I'm a fan of all things military and a big supporter of military families,” Barnett said. “I wanted to tell a military story, but not about elite warriors. Instead, I wanted to explore the journey of regular soldiers, many of whom never see combat, who are suddenly thrust into a survival situation."
Rather than focusing on hardened battle veterans, “Valiant One” follows soldiers who are more accustomed to desk jobs than firefights. "The movie is about the reluctant hero, the underdog," Barnett explained. "It explores how a soldier who is just counting the days until his discharge can rise to the occasion when it matters most. … It felt like an interesting place to start with that character, and we could explore the military and how a whole generation of kids see service these days.”
Bringing “Valiant One” to the screen was no small feat. Powell noted that the project was initially stalled due to geopolitical tensions, particularly after North Korea’s cyberattack on Sony Pictures following the release of “The Interview” in 2014.
"No one wanted to touch a movie involving North Korea," Powell said. "We had to wait for the right time."
When the film was finally completed, it found a champion in the U.S. Army; one of the producers, a former Defense Department official, shared “Valiant One” with a high-ranking Army public affairs officer, who saw its potential as a recruitment tool.
"The Army is facing recruiting challenges," Powell noted. "Because of Chase and Lana and the rest of the cast, the film appeals to younger audiences. And at its core, it’s a pro-military movie about leadership. The Army saw that message and recognized its value."
While “Valiant One” is not a faith-based film (and is rated R for violent language), it contains explicit religious elements, most notably the inclusion of the Lord’s Prayer.
"There’s an old saying, ‘There are no atheists in a foxhole,’" Powell said. "In that scene, the last remaining Navy SEAL knows he's not going to make it, and so in sacrificing himself, the last thing that he wants to do is recite the Lord's Prayer. … He's only in the military because it was his only option, and by the end of the film, he's willing to sacrifice himself for these people who are under his leadership. That’s something that faith can do. That’s part of the Christian faith … rising up and becoming a person who's willing to sacrifice yourself for other people. We see that in Jesus’ example.”
Powell, an outspoken Christian, and Barnett emphasized that faith is a key part of many soldiers’ lives and experiences.
"Our lead character, Brockman, wrestles with themes of faith and leadership," Powell said. "At the same time, they're real humans, and a lot of those people aren't believers and aren't Christians. And so, what are the things they would say, and how would they really act in those circumstances? It was important for us to honor soldiers, what it would really feel like, and how they would really behave. Hopefully, there's a balance there.”
Barnett added that another crucial moment in the film — a tense encounter with a North Korean family — reinforces the theme of shared humanity. "It was important to show that love and family transcend politics," he said. "These soldiers and this family, though on opposite sides, recognize that bond."
While “Valiant One” is action-packed, Barnett was adamant about maintaining authenticity. "There’s language, there’s violence, but it’s never gratuitous … they never initiate violence," he explained. "It reflects real military culture.”
In one key scene, soldiers witness an atrocity but are forced to remain hidden rather than intervene. "It was a tough decision, but it aligns with real-world rules of engagement," Barnett said. "We wanted to make a film that military personnel would recognize as true to life."
Monarch Media is known for projects spanning various genres, from the faith-based musical “A Week Away,” which topped Netflix charts, to the recent “Journey to Bethlehem.” Powell revealed that “A Week Away” is being adapted into a television series with Angel Studios, set to begin production soon.
Additionally, Barnett and Powell are producing “Tangles,” an animated dark comedy about Alzheimer’s featuring Seth Rogen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston based on Sarah Leavitt's memoir. They are also working on “Testament,” a reimagining of the book of Acts set in modern times, exploring what Christianity might look like if it emerged today.
“It’s a radically cool re-imagination of the book of Acts and what happened after Jesus was crucified and went back to Heaven and what happened to the apostles,” Barnett said. “What makes it so different is it's set today in an alternate universe. … What if Jesus didn't come over 2,000 years ago? What if He showed up today for the first time and started Christianity in today's world? It's a really interesting take on the book of Acts.”
With all of their past, current and upcoming projects, Powell and Barnett said they’re committed to storytelling with purpose. "Every film we make has to have a ‘why,’" Powell said. "Sometimes that’s explicit faith, sometimes it’s broader themes of sacrifice and leadership."
“Valiant One” hits theaters on Jan. 30. Watch the trailer below.
Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com