Barely a day after members of the Thai military and assisting foreign divers finished liberating 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave on Tuesday (July 11), faith-based studio Pure Flix Entertainment sought the film rights to the story. The move, by a studio known for self-described "wholesome" films like the "God’s Not Dead," struck fear of Whitewashing in the hearts of many Asian disaporic commentators. Take this Twitter thread from writer Jeff Yang, for example:
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Basically the worst possible media outcome short of Dinesh D’Souza optioning the story pic.twitter.com/VT3vtVndRw
rnt— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) July 11, 2018
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THE COACH IS A FORMER BUDDHIST MONK. He taught the kids how to meditate to calm them in the cave. Given the “God’s Not Dead” producers, there’s no way this doesn’t end up both faithwashed and White Saviored.#ThaiCaveRescue
rnt— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) July 11, 2018
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The story will focus on the British divers and invent some kind of faith-based premise for how they discovered the boys. There will be a scene in which a prominent fictional character says “All we can do now is pray,” before cutting to candlelit vigils around the world.
rnt— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) July 11, 2018
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I refuse to let Hollywood #whitewashout the Thai Cave rescue story! No way. Not on our watch. That won’t happen or we’ll give them hell. There’s a beautiful story abt human beings saving other human beings. So anyone thinking abt the story better approach it right & respectfully.
rnt— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) July 11, 2018
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rnt"Crazy Rich Asians" director Jon M. Chu promptly stepped in to fight this anticipated erasure with his own movie. Variety reported yesterday (July 11) that Chu and "Crazy Rich Asians" studio Ivanhoe Productions had started developing its own film about the ordeal. The report notes that Ivanhoe officials have already initiated talks with senior Thai government officials. Chu confirmed the news by retweeting other outlets’ stories on the development:
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Its a bit early 2truly discuss but the biggest lesson I learned frm making #CrazyRichAsians is that we must tell our stories especially the important ones so history doesnt get it wrong.This one is too important 2 let others dictate who the real heroes are https://t.co/ZmnSBFvPI3
rnt— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) July 12, 2018
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We have the power to not only MAKE history but be the historians that RECORD it too. So that it’s told correctly and respectfully. Couldn’t just sit here watching how others would “interpret” this important story. https://t.co/kRv5k9plDU
rnt— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) July 12, 2018
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Why did it take me 38 years to realize… we can fight back. https://t.co/AqmVANFVDN
rnt— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) July 12, 2018
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