Jon Chu’s adaptation of Thai cave rescue story lands at Netflix
Following the rescue of the Thai soccer team who were trapped in a cave for two weeks last summer, Hollywood began racing to adapt the story into a feature film. Among the first was Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu, whose project, Deadline reports, has landed at Netflix. At this point, it’s unclear if Netflix will make the project a movie or a miniseries.
13 Thumluang Company, which represents the rescued boys, have granted Netflix and SK Global Entertainment the rights to the story. The upcoming project will tell the true story of the 12 boys and their soccer coach who were rescued after being trapped for two weeks inside of the flooded Tham Luang caves near Chiang Mai, Thailand during the summer of 2018.
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“Like the rest of the world, we were riveted by the news of the Thai cave rescue,” Chu said. “With the entire globe watching, this tragic human drama transformed into a beautiful, inspirational story of human beings saving other human beings. Not only did this show the best of the human spirit overcoming even the worst of circumstances, it proved that we are stronger when we work together.”
“This is an opportunity for me as a filmmaker — and also a Thai citizen — to write a Thank you letter to the rest of the world,” Poonpiriya added.
Chu will direct alongside Nattawut “Baz” Poonpiriya, and produce with John Penotti and Chu’s producing partner Lance Johnson, under their Electric Somewhere Company banner. Starlight Culture Entertainment Group will executive produce.
This is one of several projects about the Thai cave rescue currently in development.