Chilean Miners’ Story Headed To The Big Screen

The story of the 33 Chilean miners who captured the world’s attention last year is headed to the big screen.

Academy Award-nominated producer Mike Medavoy – nominated in 2010 for “Black Swan” – and a rep for the 33 miners announced plans to bring their story to the big screen.

The movie – penned by “Motorocycle Diaries” screenwriter Jose Rivera – “will recount the events surrounding the mine’s collapse and the subsequent rescue efforts, which culminated in the emotional retrieval of all 33 miners after 69 days trapped half a mile beneath the surface,” according to a press release, via Deadline.

“One year after the collapse of the mine, we consider this to be a great step towards the realization of a film based on our experience in the mine. This is the only official and authorized film about what we lived in the San José mine. Much of our story has never been told,” miner Juan Andres Illanes said in a statement.

Producer Medavoy added, “Like millions of people around the world, I was completely engrossed watching the rescue at Copiapo. At its heart, this is a story about the triumph of the human spirit and a testament to the courage and perseverance of the Chilean people. I can’t think of a better story than this one to bring to the screen”

A director and cast have not been announced for the movie, which is scheduled to start filming in 2012.

On Sunday’s season premiere of “Entourage,” the Chilean miners were mentioned by Adrian Grenier’s character Vinny Chase, who after completing in a stint in rehab, wants to bring the story of trapped Romanian miners to the big screen.