Chilean Mine Disaster Film ‘The 33’ Gets Fall Release Date

Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove‘s Alcon Entertainment has snapped up North American rights, as well as the majority of international rights, to Chilean mine disaster movie The 33, setting a Nov. 13 release date via Warner Bros.

Directed by Patricia Riggen, the drama stars Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche, Mario Casas, Lou Diamond Phillips, Rodrigo Santoro, Gabriel Byrne and James Brolin.

Producer Mike Medavoy developed the project in cooperation with the miners, their families and rescuers. He produced 33 alongside Robert Katz and Edward McGurn.

“We don’t acquire many films, but we’re particularly excited to bring this incredible true story of perseverance and the strength of the human spirit to audiences around the world. Few events of this kind have captured the attention and sympathies of people around the globe as this one did, and the huge emotional ride we all took as the rescuers struggled to free the miners is captured beautifully in this wonderful film,” Johnson and Kosove said in a statement.

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33 tells the real-life story of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped more than 200 stories underground for 69 days in 2010 following the collapse of the San Jose copper and gold mine. The film, which was shot in real working mines in Colombia and Chile, recounts some of the emotional personal stories behind the gripping incident, which became a global broadcast news event and is considered the longest underground survival story in history.

Mikko Alanne, Craig Borten and Michael Thomas wrote the script based on a screen story by Jose Rivera and the book Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar.

Medavoy brought the project to Alcon. The deal was negotiated by Alcon’s Scott Parish and Scott Edel of Loeb & Loeb on behalf of Alcon, and by Bruce Tobey of O’Melveny & Myers on behalf Medavoy and Phoenix Pictures.

Added Medavoy: “Andrew and Broderick have terrific taste and we couldn’t be happier to partner with them to bring this special story to audiences around the world. I feel the film is in extremely capable hands with Warner Bros. and Alcon involved.”