Still images from the new war epic Midwayfeature actorWoody Harrelson as Chester Nimitz, commander in chief of the US Pacific Fleet.[Photo provided to China Daily]

"I immediately realized it (the Battle of Midway) is one of the biggest comeback stories in World War II. It was interesting to find that the Americans were the underdog and the Japanese naval forces were much more well trained and stronger," says the director.

An epic conflict between the United States and Japan that played out six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway-lasting from June 3 to June 6 in 1942-saw US forces crush Japan's naval strength, forcing the turning point in the Pacific theater where the war swung in favor of the Allies.

Although Emmerich formed an idea for the film as early as the 1990s, he failed to get a green light from Columbia Pictures, which was purchased by Sony with backing from Japanese banks.

However, in 2017, the stalled project reached its own turning point: Chinese studio, Bona Film Group, staked around $80 million to lead the investment on Midway, which became the biggest deal made during that year's Cannes Film Festival.