Ali
Jon M.Chu, director of last year’s smash hit “Crazy Rich Asians”,will co-direct Netflix’s retelling of the 2018 rescue of a boy’s soccer team trapped in a cave in Thailand.
Thai helmer Nattawut “Baz” Poonpiriya, who directed Asian hit “Bad Genius”, will direct alongside Chu.
The film will tell the true story of how the 12 teammates and the coach of the Wild Boars soccer squad were rescued after being trapped for two weeks inside of the flooded Tham Luang caves near Chiang Mai, Thailand, during the summer of 2018.
“Like the rest of the world, we were riveted by the news of the Thai cave rescue”, Chu, whose credits include “G.I Joe : Retaliation” and “Now You See Me 2”, 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.”
“Which is why, with the support of the Thai government and our partners at Netflix, SK Global and Starlight, we are honored and grateful to be able to share the full story of this massive, international effort in a unique multilingual format that will allow us to work with filmmakers from all around the world, like the amazingly talented Nattawut ‘Baz’ Poonpiriya, who understand the nuances and details of the local community in which this story unfolds,” he added.
Netflix and SK Global Entertainment are partnering on the project, which could either be a film or mini series.
Chu will also be a producer on the project.
There are numerous other films based on the cave rescue either wrapped or in the works like the indie “The Cave”, which is in the can, and Universal’s film on Coach Ekkapol Chantawong, Dr. Richard Harris, Dr. Craig Challen, and the players on the Wild Boar soccer team. Pure Flix and National Geographic also have projects in the works.
