Netflix casts Thai Cave Rescue drama

Netflix has revealed more cast members for its yet-to-be-titled Tham Luang cave rescue drama series.

Rodger Corser (Doctor, Doctor, Five Bedrooms, Underbelly) joins the cast as Richard “Harry” Harris and Damon Herriman (Mr Inbetween, Judy & Punch, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as Craig Challen, the two Aussie divers who played a pivotal role in rescuing the 12 stranded Thai boys of the Wild Boars football team in 2018.

The cast also features Nicholas Bell, Christopher Stollery, Nick Farnell, Stephen Phillips, Damon Manns and Conor Merrigan-Turner, with “Beam” Papangkorn Lerkchaleampote (The Stranded) in the role of Coach Ek, “Yaya” Urassaya Sperbund as Kelly, a Thai-American hydrology expert who aids greatly in the rescue effort and the 12 rescued boys played by Thai newcomers: Pratya Patong, Thanaphong Kanthawong, Songpol Kanthawong, Thanawut Chetuku, Thapanot Huttaprasu, Chakkaphat Sisat, Thanapat Phungpumkaew, Teerapat Somkaew, Rattapoom Nakeesathid, Watcharaphol Poungsawan, Apisit Saengchan, and Aphisit Yookham.

Principal photography will primarily take place on location in Thailand with the series planned for a global Netflix release in 2022.

A separate feature Thirteen Lives has been directed in Australia by Ron Howard, with Colin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen and Joel Edgerton.

The project will be brought to the screen by Showrunners and Executive Producers Dana Ledoux Miller (Designated Survivor, Lodge 49) and Michael Russell Gunn (Billions, Designated Survivor), and Directors and Executive Producers “Baz” Nattawut Poonpiriya (Bad Genius, One for the Road), who will direct the first episode, and Kevin Tancharoen (Warrior, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).

Executive producers also include John Penotti (Crazy Rich Asians, Palmer) for SK Global Entertainment; Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) and Lance Johnson (Troop Zero, The Magnificent Seven) for Electric Somewhere; John Logan Pierson (Spenser Confidential, Mile 22); Tim Coddington (Mulan, Crazy Rich Asians).

The Limited Series is based on the true story of 12 young footballers and their coach – known as the Wild Boars – as they were rescued from a flooded cave in Thailand in a gripping two-week operation in 2018. The series is developed in partnership with SK Global, and executive producers include John Penotti for SK Global; Jon M. Chu and Lance Johnson for Electric Somewhere; John Logan Pierson; and Tim Coddington.