Hacksaw Ridge is a 2016 epic biographical war film directed by Mel Gibson and written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan, based on the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector directed by Terry Benedict. Set in World War II, Andrew Garfield stars as Desmond Doss, an American combat medic who, as a Seventh-day Adventist, refused to use a weapon of any kind. Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor, for his service during the Battle of Okinawa. The supporting cast includes Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Vince Vaughn and Richard Pyros. Filming took place in Australia from September to December 2015.