An Irish-based diver who rescued 12 Thai boys from a cave says he turned down Hollywood money to “tell the real story.”
Jim Warny hopes the film, where he plays himself, will inspire others and has insisted he “felt a responsibility to do the story justice”.
The Cave was filmed in October in Ireland and Thailand in December for two weeks.
Belgian national Jim, 36, who described his time on camera as more “re-enacting than acting” was one of four divers who took part in the rescue who portray themselves in the film.
The brave Lufthansa technician, who lives in Co Clare, stressed how the “exhausting” filming was “nearly more demanding than the [rescue] diving itself”.
He chose the independently produced option De Warrenne Pictures Ltd ahead of the Hollywood offers after Irish-Thai director Tom Waller, whose father is from Co Tipperary, was holidaying in Nenagh and arranged to meet him.
Jim said: “There were serious amounts of money. It’s definitely a big business. I’d [prefer not to say [the amounts] but it was substantial. Yes, it was [life-changing].
“I’m not set for life financially, but at least my moral duty is satisfied. That’s what mattered more.
“The way Hollywood works is they buy your life rights and once money is exchanged you kind of sign it over to them and they do what they want with the story.”
The 12 rescued Thai boys, who Jim hopes to meet again soon, have signed a deal for a series of their ordeal to be made by Netflix.
Waller said it was “remarkable” to get Jim’s unique “perspectives” and “insight” for the movie, which has 300 local and international cast members.
Speaking yesterday on the first anniversary of his arrival in Chang Rai to take part in the daring mission, Jim told the Irish Mirror: “Yes it [was emotional]. It brought back a lot of memories.
"The amount of interest in the story kind of shows how significant it was and how powerful the story is and why I feel more and more that it needs to be shared.”
