In news that will surprise absolutely no one – Hollywood is frothin’ the rescue of the Wild Boars and their assistant coach from the flooded Tham Luang cave system in Thailand. So much so, they already want to make a film out of it.
The journey which captured the world’s attention saw the successful rescue of all 12 boys and their assistant coach but had one fatality – the tragic death of a former Thai Navy SEAL diver, Saman Kunan, who had volunteered in the operation.
Per the Hollywood Reporter, religious production company Pure Flix Entertainment announced they were going to make a film adaption with CEO and co-founder Michael Scott telling the publication:
“The bravery and heroism I’ve witnessed is incredibly inspiring, so, yes, this will be a movie for us.
“It’s not necessary to make this a Christian film, just an inspirational one.”
Scott, who lives part-time in Thailand had been on the scene of the rescue for a number of days talking to the families of the boys.
The film adaption will most likely be released under the company’s mainstream banner, Pinnacle Peak, the team that’ll also be releasing Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.
So then Twitter got a whiff of the news and started plotting their thoughts on how the movie’s going to go and just who will be cast in the film… obviously, people took the piss out of it:
https://twitter.com/DewaynePerkins/status/1017067172412215296
First look at Scarlett Johansson in Thai cave rescue movie. pic.twitter.com/0FWH4MFTzZ
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) July 11, 2018
Dunno about you, but I can’t wait to go to the movies and see @TomHanks rescue those Thai cave kids! 🏞🔦🧒🏻 #TakeMyMoneyNow pic.twitter.com/xgPiccu1mQ
— Tom Fitzgerald (@FitzFox5DC) July 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/bmrow/status/1016700291553488896
So then, Jon M. Chu – director of Now You See Me 2, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and the upcoming film Crazy Rich Asians had his say on Twitter because he does fear the film could turn into a blockbuster told from the perspective of an outlying character like a foreign journalist or something.
Chu wrote:
“I refuse to let Hollywood #whitewashout the Thai Cave rescue story! No Way. Not on our watch. That won’t happen or we’ll give them hell. There’s a beautiful story about human beings saving other human beings. So anyone thinking about the story better approach it right and respectfully.”
In a secondary tweet, Chu announced his plans for a competing film reportedly in development with Ivanhoe Pictures. It’s currently unclear if Chu will direct the film or just be a part of the team.
Chu told Variety the company is currently in talks with “the most senior officials in Thailand, both on provincial and on national levels, about the rescue project.”
The company’s also currently chatting up studios.
I refuse to let Hollywood #whitewashout the Thai Cave rescue story! No way. Not on our watch. That won’t happen or we’ll give them hell. There’s a beautiful story abt human beings saving other human beings. So anyone thinking abt the story better approach it right & respectfully.
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) July 11, 2018
Its a bit early 2truly discuss but the biggest lesson I learned frm making #CrazyRichAsians is that we must tell our stories especially the important ones so history doesnt get it wrong.This one is too important 2 let others dictate who the real heroes are https://t.co/ZmnSBFvPI3
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) July 12, 2018
We have the power to not only MAKE history but be the historians that RECORD it too. So that it’s told correctly and respectfully. Couldn’t just sit here watching how others would “interpret” this important story. https://t.co/kRv5k9plDU
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) July 12, 2018
It’s easy to turn the events of Tham Luang into this gigantic film project – something that will inevitably happen, there’s no stopping it but let’s just hope that whoever makes the film gives justice to the boys, their families, and every single one of those rescue divers, especially Saman Kunan.
