Joe Carnahan will write and direct Not Without Hope, which is casting Zachary Levi (upcoming Shazam! Fury of the Gods) in the lead for the film’s April shoot in Louisana.
The film centers on four best friends – Nick Schuyler (Levi) and Will Bleakley, and NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith – for whom a fishing trip from Clearwater, Florida to their favorite spot seventy miles out in the Gulf Of Mexico turns into a nightmare scenario. A trapped anchor causes their boat to capsize, violently throwing them into the freezing ocean just as a severe storm heads their way. With the U.S. Coast Guard’s air and sea rescue mission thwarted by the ferocity of the massive storm, the group must fight to survive in the ultimate test of teamwork and endurance.
Carnahan is also producing the pic from his own script based on the New York Times best-selling non-fiction novel of the same name by Jere Longman and co-author and survivor, Nick Schuyler. Producers further include Volition Media’s Michael Jefferson, Adam Beasley and Cindy Bru, K. Jam Media’s Kia Jam, Altit Media Group’s Dean Altit, Prix Productions’ Rick French, with Ford Corbett, Mark Fasano, Wes Hull and Dave Lugo exec producing.
Highland Film Group is producing and handling international rights, and is launching sales at EFM, with CAA Media Finance repping domestic. Gramercy Park is co-financing.
“I am truly honored to be part of this deeply moving project. Not Without Hope is a tragic true story of loss and courage, that’s important to share,” noted Levi.
“Nick Schuyler’s grueling trial at sea and his ultimate survival is a deeply inspiring tale of determination and perseverance but we have a much greater responsibility with this movie as it will hopefully serve as a lasting memorial to the men who lost their lives alongside him during that terrible ordeal. We have to honor their final sacrifice and never lose sight of the larger moral obligation we have as filmmakers with Not Without Hope,” said Carnahan.
“Not Without Hope is an unbelievably tragic story, yet it is also filled with a lot of heart and courage. Joe Carnahan is poised to bring sensitivity and focus to this true story of brotherhood and unspeakable loss, and capture the underlying silver lining of hope,” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser and COO Delphine Perrier.
“We’re thrilled to share this heroic and tragic tale in honor of the memories of the victims of this horrific event and the heroes at the US Coast Guard. Joe has crafted a masterpiece and with Zach leading the ensemble under Joe’s direction, this film is sure to move audiences everywhere with its humanity and focus on the power of hope and perseverance,” noted Beasley.
Levi is repped by UTA, Untitled Entertainment and McKuin Frankel Whitehead, LLP. Carnahan, whose recent credits include Copshop and Hulu’s Boss Level, and is also in post-production for Lionsgate’s Shadow Force is repped by CAA and attorney Erik Hyman at Paul Hastings.