First Look: ‘Thirteen Lives’ reminds the world that heroes do exist

Ron Howard’s upcoming film, “Thirteen Lives,” premieres in select theaters exclusively for one week on July 29 before launching globally on Prime Video on August 5. The biographical survival movie is based on the 2018 real-life headline surrounding the Tham Luang cave rescue. The 18-day ordeal saw the young Thai soccer team and their coach trapped in a cave while a valiant life-saving rescue mission was underway.  

“When people pull tighter, incredible things can happen. And this is just a tremendous case study,” Ron Howard said during the film’s press conference. “As a director, I also knew it was gonna be an exciting challenge… the drama in the cave, I knew that was gonna be a cinematic challenge that I was excited to meet.”

The “Apollo 13” director also knew that the story needed to reflect Thai culture, and so he wanted to portray the characters in a nuanced and thoughtful way. “I knew that there was a lot of entertainment value and power in that if we could get that right,” Howard added. 

The trailer depicts just how dire these circumstances were for the soccer team, the Thai Navy SEALs, and the volunteers. Howard, along with the actors, met every challenge with a willingness to replicate the story’s authenticity. While the cinematography came with its own hurdles, the cast took William Nicholson’s script to the next level by volunteering to do their own stunts. 

Viggo Mortensen, who plays Rick Stanton, had his real-life counterpart on set. Stanton, as one of the rescuers in 2018, served as the film’s technical advisor. “We really worked together above water as much as underwater,” Mortensen said during the press conference. “Underwater, I would say it was maybe even more important because even though you’re shooting a movie, and it’s somewhat a controlled situation, whenever you’re underwater, and you’re in caves, it’s dangerous.”

Mortensen, Tom Bateman (Chris Jewell), Joel Edgerton (Harry Harris), and Colin Farrell (John Volanthen) all volunteered to – much like the story behind the film – come together for the greater good. For Farrell, who admitted he couldn’t swim, and Bateman, who said (while he didn’t reveal it in the audition process) that he is actually claustrophobic, making the film proved to push the envelope both physically and emotionally.

Farrell pointed out that he felt a responsibility to honor the lives of those who had passed as well as the spirit of those who survived the rescue. “We were really aware of it,” Farrell explained. “It wasn’t about us coming in as actors playing these British divers, who were there to save the day and rescue. It was really about us being led by our Thai brothers and sisters…and how they guided us through the actual events that took place, and how serious it was.” 

Edgerton pointed out that there is more than meets the eye in this film. “You get to see the points of view of so many different people that all participated and joined together to help in the rescue,” Edgerton noted. “You learn so many more details than maybe were evident just in that initial news push.” 

“When we go into those caves in the set, there’s something haunting and truly sort of desperate and dangerous in everything,” Tom Bateman added. “The design was incredible. There’s constantly water coming in, and we spent the whole shoot wet and cold and underwater, and you think we’re doing this in these conditions. The guys doing it… I cannot believe what they did, and to be a small part of telling their story is a real honor.”

“Thirteen Lives” also stars Paul Gleeson, Pattrakorn Tungsupakul, Tui Thiraphat Sajakul, James Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Weir Sukollawat Kanaros.