For those well acquainted with Spielberg’s JAWS, the story of the USS Indianapolis is the stuff of legend. As Quint recalls, Japanese torpedoes sank the vessel in July 1945, leaving almost 900 of the surviving crew afloat in the ocean. Whilst awaiting rescue, shark attacks picked off the men one-by-one, with dehydration and exposure threatening to kill the rest. Of the orginal 1,196 aboard only 316 survived.
According to Heat Vision Blog, the events have inspired a new Warner Bros project, with everyone’s favourite Iron Man Robert Downey Jr on board as producer. However, the film will apparently not focus on the sinking itself, but on the true story of Hunter Scott, who in 1996 – at only 11-years old – researched the incident for a school project. Scott’s investigation into the Indianapolis and its crew proved thorough enough to clear the name of the ship’s captain Charles McVay, who had been court martialed and evetually killed himself. McVay’s record was amended following Scott testifying in court. Robert Shenkkan (HBO’s THE PACIFIC) is reportedly attached to develop the screenplay of Scott’s story.
This will not be the USS Indianapolis’ maiden voyage on the big screen: aside from failed efforts to previously adapt it (including a script from JJ Abrams), the story was also made in the 1991 TV movie MISSION OF THE SHARK: THE SAGA OF THE U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS starring John-Boy Walton (otherwise known as Richard Thomas). No word yet on production or release dates. Or whether Quint will make a cameo.
Tom Fordy is a writer and journalist. Originally from Bristol, he now lives in London. He is a former editor of The Hollywood News and Loaded magazine. He also contributes regularly to The Telegraph, Esquire Weekly and numerous others. Follow him @thetomfordy.
1 Comment
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
Latest Posts
-
Apple TV
/ 54 mins agoTrailer: André Holland leads Apple’s new limited series, ‘The Big Cigar’
Apple TV+ has released the full trailer for The Big Cigar, a new, six-episode...
By Paul Heath -
Film News
/ 2 hours agoUK trailer, poster and release date for Sundance smash ‘Sasquatch Sunset’
Premiering in the UK at the Sundance London event in June is the brilliant...
By Paul Heath -
Disney+
/ 3 hours agoNew trailer for ‘Becoming Karl Lagerfeld’ with Daniel Brühl
A trailer has landed for the June-released Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, the Disney+/ Hulu series...
By Paul Heath -
Film News
/ 3 hours agoUK release date revealed for Cannes film ‘The Delinquents’
MUBI has announced the release date for The Delinquents, the Cannes Un Certain Regard-premiering...
By Paul Heath
Gino
Sep 5, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Redo of the 1991 original version starring Stacy Keach.