The characters in Thirteen Lives are all based on actual people, meaning viewers will be curious to see how the actors look to their real-life counterparts. Directed by Ron Howard, Thirteen Lives depicts the true story of the Tham Luang cave rescue in 2018 and chronicles the sacrifice and combined efforts of many individuals and communities to save the lives of a Thai soccer team of 12 boys and their coach. The film was released on Amazon Prime on July 29 to generally positive reviews from audiences and critics alike.
Thirteen Lives accurately retells the true story of the efforts to rescue 12 of the boys who play on the Wild Boars junior association football team in the northern Thailand province of Chiang Rai. Over the course of 18 days, many attempts to save the boys were made, with complications mounting due to rising water, strong currents, and poor conditions. The heroic efforts of those involved saved the lives of the 13 who were trapped at the cost of the lives of two of their rescuers.
Given the Thirteen Lives' background in reality, one may wonder about both the accuracy of the story and how well the cast portrays the real people who were involved with the events of the Tham Luang cave rescue. Though some details escape the filmic retelling of events, the story is largely grounded in reality and accurate to its source. The care put into Ron Howard's movies is a hallmark of his career, so how did he do with accurately portraying the real-life characters of Thirteen Lives? Here's a look at the main cast of Thirteen Lives and their real-world counterparts.
Viggo Mortensen As Richard Stanton
Viggo Morten plays Richard "Rick" Stanton in Thirteen Lives. Shaving his head to emulate Rick's appearance, Mortenson not only looks the part but plays Rick as a quiet expert in his craft. He's confident and takes a leading role in the rescue, but also plays the role with an understanding of what hangs in the balance and how much is at stake. Mortenson shines in Thirteen Lives, and Rick feels like every bit the hero he truly is in real life.
Colin Farrell As John Volanthen
With a resume that includes Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Batman, Colin Farrell has plenty of experience portraying fictional characters on the big screen. That such a talented actor happens to look a great deal like John Volanthen must have been a boon to the crew behind Thirteen Lives. Farrell plays John believably and shows a near-constant concern for the lives of the trapped boys. He brings some lightness and levity to the film in his interactions with some characters, showing a particular sincerity and humanity that highlights his real intent: keeping everyone going until the rescue can be carried out.
Joel Edgerton As Richard Harris
Joel Edgerton portrays Richard "Harry" Harris, an Australian anesthetist whose role was essential in saving the boys from the cave. Edgerton plays Harry as a careful expert whose knowledge is used to ensure the rescue goes off with as few complications as possible. Seen most recently in Obi-Wan Kenobi as Luke Skywalker's Uncle Owen, Edgerton has a long list of acting credits across film, television, and stage. His experience shows in his portrayal of Harry, and he tends to steal the scenes in which he features.
Tom Bateman As Chris Jewell
Tom Bateman plays young diver Chris Jewell in Thirteen Lives. While Chris would go on to become a seasoned rescue diver, during the events portrayed in Thirteen Lives, he's yet to undergo a rescue of the magnitude shown in the film. Bateman looks the part and plays the role with a mix of anxiety and energy, showing how big a role Chris played in the rescue.
Teeradon Supapunpinyo As Ekkaphon Chanthawong
Any movie that's a true story (like Ron Howard's own Hillbily Elegy) has factual accuracy as a core concern. Thirteen Lives is particularly careful with its portrayal of Ekkaphon Chanthawong. It may have been impossible to rescue the Wild Boars if their coach hadn't entered the caves with them. Ekkaphon kept the boys calm, encouraged them to drink the cleaner water dripping from the stalactites instead of the muddy water filling the cave, and was a source of security and leadership for the team. Teeradon Supapunpinyo's sincerity shines in the role, giving his boys and audiences alike hope that rescue is imminent.
Sukollawat Kanarot As Saman Kunan
Saman Kunan is one of Thirteen Lives' biggest heroes, having lost his life in the process of readying everything to save the boys. Saman is portrayed by Sukollawat Kanarot, who looks the part. While he doesn't have a lot of screen time, the role is well-acted. The film is also dedicated to Saman's memory.
The Wild Boars Football Team
Some movies based on true stories add fictional elements (like Netflix's Blonde) to increase the tension, but Thirteen Lives has at its center such a big piece of real drama that it doesn't need to add a thing. The team of 12 boys is portrayed by various actors, but each brings gravity to their individual role. It isn't hard to believe that these boys are friends with more complex lives than the movie has time to show. That their lives are in danger also comes through in each performance, and some of the most heart-wrenching moments come from watching the boys dealing with the grim reality they are facing.
Thirteen Lives focuses on the people of the Chiang Rai province and shows how the effort to save the Wild Boars was bigger than just a few men. Thousands were involved in getting those boys home to safety, along with the team of experts who risked it all to bring them back. Where some true story movies (like House of Gucci) have missing information, Ron Howard's Thirteen Lives seeks to tell more of the story of the Tham Luang cave rescue than what was in the headlines from news articles in 2018.