With Thai soccer team freed, H’wood gears up for film
‘Real-life courage in face of harrowing circumstances’
LOS ANGELES, July 15, (RTRS): The dramatic rescue of a Thai boys soccer team and their coach from a flooded cave complex this week transfixed news viewers around the world for more than two weeks, and the story is already headed for a retelling by Hollywood.
Divers freed the last four of the 12 boys and their adult coach on Tuesday.
The saga is reminiscent of the 2010 rescue of 33 Chilean miners who were trapped for 69 days, a tale that was turned into the 2015 movie “The 33” starring Antonio Banderas.
Two production companies are now looking to put together movies about the Thai soccer team rescue.
Thailand’s Navy, whose SEAL unit led the rescue, and the Thai government have selected Ivanhoe Pictures to develop a film that would be directed by John M. Chu, the president of Ivanhoe Pictures, John Penotti, said in a statement.
Ivanhoe Pictures, which has offices in the United States and in Asia, focuses on Asia and North America. It is the co-producer of the upcoming film “Crazy Rich Asians,” based on the novel by Kevin Kwan and directed by Chu.
“I refuse to let Hollywood #whitewashout the Thai Cave rescue story!” Chu, who was born in California and has Chinese heritage, tweeted.
“There’s a beautiful story abt human beings saving other human beings. So anyone thinking abt the story better approach it right & respectfully,” added Chu.
The other company looking to develop a movie on the event is USbased Pure Flix, which specializes in Christian and family films.
Pure Flix co-founder Michael Scott, who lives in Thailand part of the year, said producers from his company were on the ground interviewing rescue workers for a potential film. He said his wife grew up with Samarn Poonan, the former Thai navy SEAL who died during the mission.
Inspire
“It’s Thai, Westerners, Europeans, Aussies — people from all over the world who helped bring these kids to safety,” Scott told Reuters. “I think there is a worldwide appeal which I think will inspire millions across the globe.”
Like the Chilean rescue, the Thai drama showcases real-life courage in the face of harrowing circumstances, said Mike Medavoy, the Oscarnominated producer of “The 33.”
“It’s about the triumphs of individuals and groups of human beings over tragedy,” Medavoy said. “It’s a terrific story.” Bringing the Thai drama to the screen faces hurdles, however. First, filmmakers need to secure the rights from each of the boys’ families, the coach, and any rescuers they want to portray in order to get their firsthand accounts of what happened. The boys range in age from 11 to 16. And replicating the rescue on screen could be costly. The Thai cave rescue will be the subject of not one, but two competing movies.
“Now You See Me 2” director Jon M. Chu and Ivanhoe Pictures are teaming up on a movie about the rescue operation, a day after Pure Flix Entertainment announced it was seeking the movie rights to the mission.
Chu last partnered with Ivanhoe in directing the upcoming romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians.” Ivanhoe, an SK Global company, is currently in talks with the most senior officials in Thailand, both on provincial and national levels, about the rescue project. The company is also currently in talks with multiple studios that have shown interest in this project.
Pure Flix is behind such faith-based films as the “God’s Not Dead” movies, “Same Kind of Different as Me,” “Woodlawn,” “The Case for Christ,” and “Do You Believe?” Pure Flix said its project would focus on the inspirational aspects of the story.
The near three-week ordeal prompted an international rescue effort. The 12th boy and his coach were the last of the team to be rescued on Tuesday. The team became trapped on June 23 when rising flood water confined them deep inside the cave.