Phoenix-area company negotiating movie rights for Thai cave rescue
Jul 17, 2018, 5:01 AM
In this undated file photo provided by Royal Thai Navy on July 7, 2018, Thai rescue teams arrange a water pumping system at the entrance to a flooded cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. (Royal Thai Navy via AP, File)
(Royal Thai Navy via AP, File)
PHOENIX — If the story of the dramatic rescue of a Thai soccer team from a flooded cave makes it to the big screen, it might be thanks to a Phoenix-area movie company.
According to multiple reports, the CEO of Scottsdale-based Pure Flix Entertainment has been in Thailand negotiating rights to the story that captivated the world’s attention.
Michael Scott, who co-founded the company, lives part of the year in Thailand and was at the location while the rescue was taking place.
“We’re here really looking at this as a movie the could inspire millions of people across the globe,” Scott said in a video posted on social media by Pure Flix.
“We’re just kind of here witnessing the events, gathering some context and everything to really tell a story about an international effort, the entire world coming together.”
Pure Flix joins the rest of the world in thanking God for answering prayers for the successful rescue of those trapped in the cave in Thailand.
Managing partner Michael Scott, from his home in Thailand, has been helping at the cave rescue in Chiang Rai the past 4 days. pic.twitter.com/htt1vN9oU1
— Pure Flix (@PureFlix) July 10, 2018
The Wall Street Journal reported that Scott’s company had begun talking to actors, writers and investors about partnering on the movie.
According to The Times, Pure Flix has competition. The British newspaper reported that Ivanhoe Pictures is in talks with the Thai government and navy about a film.
In addition to making movies, Pure Flix offers a family-friendly video streaming service.
Among the films it has produced was the “God’s Not Dead” series. The company specializes in faith-based stories.
The daring rescue of the 12 soccer players, between ages 11 and 16, and their coach seems destined for the Hollywood treatment.
They were trapped in the cave June 23 after rapid flooding due to heavy rain cut them of from the entrance and forced them to retreat deep into the cave.
They survived more than a week before being discovered by to British rescue divers, and it took several days to figure out how to get them out safely.
A Thai Navy SEAL lost his life while placing air tanks inside flooded areas as part of the rescue effort.
Last Tuesday, the last of the boys and the coach were successfully rescued, ending the 18-day ordeal.
