Netflix to produce drama on Thai Cave Rescue

Netflix will produce a drama on the dramatic rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand in 2018.

Netflix and SK Global Entertainment (Crazy Rich Asians) have acquired the rights to the story from 13 Thumluang Co. Ltd,, a company set up to represent the interests of the boys and their coach.
Families of the survivors would each be paid 3 million baht ($AU133,000).

“We are grateful for the opportunity to thank the people and organisations from Thailand and around the world who came together to perform a true miracle, by retelling our story,” said Ekapol “Ake” Chanthawong, the boy’s assistant coach. “We look forward to working with all involved parties to ensure our story is told accurately, so that the world can recognise, once again, the heroes that made the rescue operation a success.”

Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and Thai filmmaker Nattawut “Baz” Poonpiriya will be directors on the project -yet to be determined as a movie or miniseries.

“We are immensely proud to be able to support the retelling of the incredible story of the Tham Luang cave rescue,” Erika North, director of International Originals at Netflix, said in a statement. “The story combines so many unique local and universal themes which connected people from all walks of life, from all around the world. Thailand is a very important country for Netflix and we are looking forward to bringing this inspiring local but globally resonant story of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to life, once again, for global audiences.”

An independent film about the adventure, The Cave, was shot soon after the rescue and is supposed to be released later this year.

Source: TIME