ARRAS, France — Clint Eastwood is in France directing a film that re-enacts the dramatic end to an attempted Islamic State group attack on a high-speed train that saw three Americans take down the gunman.
After renting a Thalys train for five days of filming “The 15:17 to Paris,” work was wrapping up in Arras, the town where the express ended up after Ayoub El Khazzani was overpowered by passengers, including the childhood friends from California: Air Force Staff Sgt. Spencer Stone, Oregon National Guard Spc. Alek Skarlatos and civilian Anthony Sadler.
They received the Legion of Honor, France’s highest decoration. They’ve been cast to play themselves in ”The 15:17 to Paris.”
Friday’s filming shut down two tracks in Arras.
El Khazzani’s lawyer has said the suspect in the August 2015 attack acted on orders from the leader of the IS cell that attacked Paris three months later.
