Ata Island castaways secure Hollywood movie deal [1]
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 - 11:00. Updated on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 - 11:01.
The story of six Tongan castaways who survived on Ata Island for 15 months in the 1960s before they were rescued by an Australian fishing boat, will be made into a movie, after a Hollywood studio recently won the film rights, according to The Guardian [2].
New Regency [3], beat other contenders including Netflix, MGM, and British producers Working Title for a low seven-figure deal. The film studio is behind films such as 12 Years a Slave and The Revenant.
Kolo Fekitoa, Sione Fataua, "David" Tevita Siola'a, "Stephen" Fatai Latu, Mano Totau, and Luke Veikoso’s story was made famous after historian Rutger Bregman’s article on their ordeal published in The Guardian [4] earlier this month was read more than 7 million times, triggering a battle for film rights.
Bregman is the author of a new book 'Humankind: A Hopeful History' [5] that contrasts the real castaways' adventure with the fictional castaway boys in the best selling book Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, and how the strong friendship and loyalty of the Tongans prevailed.
“I was so surprised the story exploded in the way it did. Dozens of film-makers wanted the story. I thought it was vital for us to collectively decide what to do,” Bregman said.
“We had received lots of offers, and pitches. It was really important to all of us that they understood this was a Tongan story, there were very deep cultural reasons why these boys were able to survive – their spirituality, their upbringing.”
Only four of the Tongan castaways are still alive. Kolo and Fatai have passed away.
“Yesterday at 6am we had a Zoom call, all of us, in four different time zones. When we made the decision, it was a very emotional moment for all of us.”
The survivors, Sione, Mano, Tevita and Luke, would act as consultants to the project, and that as much production as possible would take place in the region, said Bregman.
The proceeds are to be shared equally among the four survivors, Peter Warner (Australian fisherman who rescued the boys) and Bregman.
Bregman said he will donate his share to a Tongan charity.
“This will have a huge cultural, social economic impact for Tonga. People have been telling each other this story for decades in Tonga, and it’s so great that after 50 years this story is getting the attention it deserves,” he said.
Two deceased
However, there was no mention of any proceeds for the widows and families of two of the castaways, Kolo and Fatai, who have passed away.
Before he died recently, Kolo went back to Ata Island to relive his experience with a Spanish adventurer, Alvaro Cerezo, who travelled to Tonga in 2015. They filmed a new documentary re-enacting how he and his friends survived. According to the explorer's website, Docastaway [6], the film will be launched this summer.
https://youtu.be/88noN4PoJqc [7]
An earlier documentary was made in 1966.