Thirteen Lives: Ron Howard Thai cave drama lands an all-star cast

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Ron Howard has assembled an all-star cast for his Thai cave rescue drama Thirteen Lives. Set to rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded Thailand cave as part of a major international cast are Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton, with Weir Sukollawat (Malila), Thiraphat Sajakul (The Serpent), Sahajak Boonthanakit (The Serpent), Vithaya Pansringarm (The Prey), Teeradon “James” Supapunpinyo (Bad Genius), Nophand Boonyai (Only God Forgives), Tom Bateman (Death on the Nile), Paul Gleeson (The Thin Red Line), and Lewis Fitz-Gerald (Pitch Black).

Per Deadline, Thirteen Lives tells the true story of the rescue of twelve boys and their soccer coach from a flooded, impenetrable cave system in Thailand in 2018. Thai families, the government, and a community of farmers and neighbors came together alongside volunteers from around the world to get them out of the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system in Chiang Rai Province. Among the volunteers were veteran British cave divers John Volanthen, Richard Stanton, Jason Mallinson, Chris Jewell, Josh Bratchley, Connor Roe, and Vernon Unsworth; Australian cave diver Dr. Richard Harris and Thai native Thanet Natisri. The harrowing 18-day ordeal made headlines around the world. Thanks to the team's quick thinking, bravery, and determination, all the boys, and the coach, were rescued before the floodwaters filled the caves.

Mortensen plays Richard Stanton, who specializes in rescues through the Cave Rescue Organization and the British Cave Rescue Council. Farrell portrays John Volanthen, a veteran cave diver who specializes in cave exploration and underwater rescue. He is part of the South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue and the British Cave Rescue Council. Edgerton steps into the role of Dr. Richard Harris, an anesthetist and cave diver with over 30 years of experience, who was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement” award at the Australian technical diving conference Oztek, to mark his exceptional contributions to cave diving exploration.

Because it took a village to rescue the boys and their coach, Thirteen Lives features several other players, including Sukollawat as former Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan; Sajakul plays Anand, a Thai Navy SEAL instrumental in the rescue effort; Boonthanakit plays the Chiang Rai province acting Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn; Pansringarm plays General Anuphond; Supapunpinyo portrays the boy’s coach “Ek” Ekkaphon Chanthawong, and Boonyai will portray Thanet Natisri, a groundwater expert contacted by the Thai military.

The film also stars Tom Bateman as Chris Jewell, a Diving Officer for the British Cave Rescue Council as well as a member of the Cave Diving Group who has led many overseas cave diving expeditions including leading a team that set the Western Hemisphere cave depth record in 2013. Paul Gleeson stars as Jason Mallinson, a member of the Cave Rescue Organisation, and British Cave Rescue Council – core International Dive Team. Mallinson is also a member of the Cave Diving Group – the oldest amateur technical and cave diving organization in the world. Last but certainly not least, Lewis Fitz-Gerald will appear as Vernon Unsworth, a British rescue worker, and diver who was a key member of the rescue team.

Thirteen Lives will be coming to U.S. theaters courtesy of MGM's United Artists Releasing, and internationally through Universal Pictures International. Considering that many people have been cooped up for a year during the pandemic, it could be inspiring to see a film about people banding together for a heroic rescue mission.