Thai cave rescue movie: Will there be a Thai cave rescue story film?

The ordeal of the 12 Thai boys and their coach trapped in a cave in Thailand has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds for the last three weeks.

As the last remaining boy and his coach were rescued, the world breathed a sigh of relief.

And not long after, rumours began to rumble about a movie featuring the rescue.

Will there be a Thai cave rescue movie?

One day after the final boy and coach were rescued from the cave, a faith-based film production company Pure Flix announced they were planning an “inspirational” movie based on the rescue.

And one day after that, film director Jon Chu – who helmed Crazy Rich Asian – tweeted an announcement of his own.

Chu plans to direct his own version of the Thai cave rescue mission.

“I refuse to let Hollywood #whitewashout the Thai Cave rescue story!” wrote Chu.

“No way. Not on our watch. That won’t happen or we’ll give them hell. There’s a beautiful story abt human beings saving other human beings. So anyone thinking abt the story better approach it right & respectfully [sic].”

Chu isn’t the only person sceptical of a Thai rescue movie.

Philbert Lui, marketing manager for the Reel Asian International Film Festival, voiced his particular hesitancy.

“Without forgetting the efforts of the foreign divers from the U.K. and Australia, the story should be about the Thai boys and that Northern Thai community, instead of having a story we’ve seen for years and years about a white saviour in a foreign land.

“That trope has just been used over and over again and we’re just tired of it, to be honest.”

Representational issues aren’t the only ones of concern to filmmakers and the public alike.

The boys, who are still in the hospital, are undoubtedly adjusting and dealing with extreme trauma from the incident.

Any movie made out of their ordeal will have to take into account how it will impact them.

A dozen boys aged 11 to 16 and their 25-year-old coach were trapped in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave after heavy rains and floodwaters prevented them from escaping.

The boys are now recovering in hospital and Prayuth Chan-ocha, the Thai prime minister, made a statement thanking everyone involved who “shared their expertise, manpower and equipment.”