After researching the American Civil War for twenty-years, author Justin Murphy had finally decided which personality was waiting to be turned into a film. "Of all the Civil War figures I've read about, Patrick Cleburne is one of the most fascinating and definitely one of the most controversial. He was not only a great military leader, but he was also an advocate for an oppressed people who risked his career and reputation for his ideals. His life has all the courage and tragedy of a Hollywood move. I kept asking myself why hasn't anyone written a story about this man? Then I realized I was the one who was supposed to write it."

A two-year journey commenced, beginning with a screenplay and becoming a published graphic novel in 2008. Murphy wrote and illustrated the book himself, all the while telling the story as if it were a movie in still pictures. "I wanted to keep the dialogue to a minimum and focus on moving the drama along visually. I was basically following the old rule of showing instead of telling. Though I enjoy the graphic novel medium, my goal has always been to see the story fully realized as a motion picture. It's great to see the book being received so well, and I am confident the film will reach a much broader audience. Cleburne has all the elements for a great story; action, romance and controversy, but the best part is that it is based in truth. Fact really is stranger than fiction."