Thai rescue is a drama fit for Hollywood

LOS ANGELES/MAE SAI, Thailand - The nail-biting rescue of a Thai boys soccer team and their coach from a flooded cave complex transfixed viewers around the world, and the story could be headed for a retelling by Hollywood.

Divers freed the last four of 12 boys and the adult coach on Tuesday, a successful end to a mission that gripped the world for over two weeks.

The soccer teammates lost weight during their 18-day ordeal but had water while they were trapped and are in good health, a health official said on Wednesday.

"They took care of themselves well in the cave," said Thongchai Lertwilairatanapong, a public health inspector.

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.

Like the Chilean rescue, the Thai drama showcases reallife courage in the face of harrowing circumstances, said Mike Medavoy, the Oscar-nominated producer of The 33.

It is likely the saga will be turned into a film or series of TV episodes at some point, he said. "It's about the triumphs of individuals and groups of human beings over tragedy," Medavoy said. "It's a terrific story."

Already on the ground

Producers with US-based Pure Flix, a studio that specializes in family movies, already are on the ground interviewing rescue workers for a potential film.

Pure Flix co-founder Michael Scott lives in Thailand part of the year and said he became captivated by the story while watching the news at his home in Bangkok. His wife grew up with the former Thai Navy SEAL who died during the mission, he added.

Scott said he believes the international cooperation at the scene will help stoke interest in a movie about the effort.

"It's Thai, Westerners, Europeans, Aussies - people from all over the world who helped bring these kids to safety," he said.

"I think there is a worldwide appeal which I think will inspire millions across the globe."

The attempt to retrieve the boys and their coach became a race against time amid a forecast of heavy rain that threatened to flood the cave tunnels.

"It's a combination of great jeopardy and great heroism," said literary agent Judi Farkas, who represented author Antonio Mendez on the film rights sale of his book Argo for the Oscar-winning Ben Affleck movie.

Meanwhile, an Australian doctor who looked after the team during their ordeal emerged from the flooded underground complex to the sad news that his own father had died.

Richard Harris, a world-renowned medic and diver whose presence in the dramatic rescue of the Wild Boars squad was specially requested by experts, was reportedly the last person to leave the waterlogged cavern on Tuesday.

Reuters - AFP - AP

(China Daily 07/12/2018 page12)