EXCLUSIVE: Vince Vaughn will move from the HBO series True Detective to Hacksaw Ridge, the fact-based movie that Mel Gibson is directing about Desmond Doss, the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Vaughn joins Andrew Garfield and Sam Worthington in a film that will shoot in Australia.

Garfield plays Doss and the story unfolds during WWII and follows the soldiers of the 307th Infantry, 77th Army Division, 1st Battalion, Company B as they train for battle. The story begins at a base camp in South Carolina and follows the recruits as they learn basic wartime survival skills before being deployed to Japan where they come face to face with the action at the Battle of Okinawa. Vaughn will play Sgt. Howell, a non-commissioned officer from Alabama whose job is to make sure the soldiers are ready for battle. Although he tries to instill fear in his soldiers by pushing them to their limits both physically and mentally, it is clear that he really cares about them and will do whatever it takes to keep them alive. Having a member who refuses to shoot and kill the enemy contradicts everything the sergeant has learned about war.

Deadline revealed last November that Gibson would return to directing on the project, which IM Global’s Stuart Ford has been selling. The film is produced by Bill Mechanic and David Permut, with Terry Benedict and Steve Longi the co-producers. Robert Schenkkan and Randall Wallace wrote the script.

Mel Gibson has started production on World War II drama “Hacksaw Ridge" in New South Wales, Australia, starring Andrew Garfield, and released the first photos from the set on Tuesday.

The movie is based on the life of Desmond T. Doss, a medic and the first conscientious objector (someone who claims the right to refuse military service) to win the Congressional Medal of Honor after saving dozens of soldiers during the Battle of Okinawa.

“While production has only just begun, there is already incredible camaraderie between the cast,” Gibson said in a statement. “Not only is Andrew perfect for the role of Desmond Doss, the entire cast are an incredible mix of experience, depth and exciting up and coming talent.”

Gibson is directing from a script by Robert Schenkkan, Andrew Knight and “We Were Soldiers” screenwriter Randall Wallace. Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer and Rachel Griffiths also star.

Worthington plays an officer in charge of the unit, while Vaughn plays a sergeant whose job is to get the new recruits ready for battle. Palmer has been cast as Doss’s sweetheart with Griffiths is playing his mother.

Other cast members include Richard Roxburgh, Luke Pegler, Richard Pyros, Ben Mingay, Firass Dirani, Nico Cortez, Michael Sheasby, Goran Kleut, Jacob Warner, Harry Greenwood, Damien Thomlinson, Ben O’Toole, Benedict Hardie, Robert Morgan, Ori Pfeffer, Milo Gibson and Nathaniel Buzolic.

Cross Creek is the principal financier. The film is produced by Bill Mechanic’s Pandemonium Films and David Permut’s Permut Productions along with Bruce Davie and Paul Currie. James M. Vernon is exec producing.

IM Global is handling international rights for the film, which will be distributed by Lionsgate in the U.S. and Icon in Australia

Gibson said: “Desmond attributed his actions to a power greater than himself, and the difference between a real superhero and a comic-book superhero is that real superheroes didn’t wear any Spandex.”