Oscar-winning director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind) explains that although he’s made many films based on real events, he wanted to be as journalistic as possible in telling the story of the Thai cave rescue in Thirteen Lives. “One of the things that I wanted to convey was that Thai people saved these boys,” says Howard in the new behind-the-scenes featurette.
Cast members, including Viggo Mortensen who plays diver Rick Stanton, also discuss working on the film and their reaction to the actual rescue in the three-minute video. “These kids were 2.3 kilometers inside of the cave, and that’s not even the beginning of it,” says Mortensen. “This event felt like it was an almost impossible situation – a no-win situation.”
“As the world was watching the Thai people represented so much strength and dignity,” adds Colin Farrell.
Thirteen Lives also stars Joel Edgerton, Tom Bateman, Paul Gleeson, Pattrakorn Tungsupakul, Tui Thiraphat Sajakul, James Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Sahajak Boonthanakit, and Weir Sukollawat Kanaros. Ron Howard directed from a screenplay by William Nicholson (story by Nicholson and Don Macpherson).
The PG-13 drama is produced by P.J. van Sandwijk, Gabrielle Tana, Karen Lunder, William M. Connor, Brian Grazer, and Ron Howard. Jon Kuyper, Carolyn Marks Blackwood, Marie Savare, Michael Lesslie, Aaron L. Gilbert, and Jason Cloth executive produce.
MGM will release Thirteen Lives in select theaters the week of July 29, 2022 followed by a launch on Prime Video on August 5.
The Plot: “Thirteen Lives recounts the incredible true story of the tremendous global effort to rescue a Thai soccer team who become trapped in the Tham Luang cave during an unexpected rainstorm. Faced with insurmountable odds, a team of the world’s most skilled and experienced divers – uniquely able to navigate the maze of flooded, narrow cave tunnels – join with Thai forces and more than 10,000 volunteers to attempt a harrowing rescue of the twelve boys and their coach.
With impossibly high stakes and the entire world watching, the group embarks on their most challenging dive yet, showcasing the limitlessness of the human spirit in the process.”
