Scott McEwen, co-author of
"American Sniper" with Chris Kyle, whose story is told in the book, told
Newsmax TV on Thursday that Kyle and Clint Eastwood wanted to deliver a message of support for American troops and for America in their film version.
Eastwood directed the movie based on the book that surprised Hollywood by grossing $350 million. Kyle was killed by a fellow veteran he was trying to help just before the movie began production.
McEwen told "Newsmax Prime" host J.D. Hayworth that no one could have predicted the success of the book and movie. Even some of the backers of the film were skeptical it would find an audience, he said.
"The overwhelming support that we found from the people in the heartland of this country was amazing," McEwen said. "People resonated to the message of God, family and country, and it showed Hollywood as well that that message is worth telling."
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Naturally, the message wasn't universally well-received, he said.
"Anytime you tell a real story that highlights this country and that is positive towards this country, there are going to be those that want to run this country down," McEwen told Newsmax. "The message of Chris Kyle was one of support for the troops and support for this country. It was unending and unwilling to compromise."
Eastwood took the same approach with the movie, he said, which "was a very good message to the left that the reason this country is great is because of people like Chris Kyle."
Eastwood and screenwriter Jason Hall did an excellent job taking "the best of the best" from the book and getting it on the big screen, he said. "I have no higher praise that I can give than I give to Clint Eastwood as a filmmaker and as a patriot of this country."
McEwen's latest book,
"The Sniper and the Wolf," is the third in his "Sniper Elite" series, and fictionalizes real-life stories he's heard from SEAL team members.
"It's a very fun series that I've done there and I'm very happy to say that Sony Pictures has picked up the first two books to be made into a movie," McEwen said.