FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRODUCTION IS SET TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER ON “THE FINEST HOURS” STARRING CHRIS PINE, CASEY AFFLECK AND HOLLIDAY GRAINGER
CRAIG GILLESPIE DIRECTS THE THRILLER BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF A 1952 U.S. COAST GUARD RESCUE
BURBANK, Calif. (September 9, 2014) – Production is scheduled to begin in September on “The Finest Hours,” starring Chris Pine (“Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” “Star Trek”), Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominee Casey Affleck (“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” “Ocean’s Thirteen”) and Holliday Grainger (“Cinderella,” “Bonnie & Clyde”).
The thriller, which will be directed by Craig Gillespie (“Million Dollar Arm,” “Lars and the Real Girl”), will shoot on location in Quincy and Chatham, Massachusetts.
In February of 1952, one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging an oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half. On a small lifeboat faced with frigid temperatures and 70-foot high waves, four members of the Coast Guard set out to rescue the more than 30 stranded sailors trapped aboard the rapidly-sinking vessel. “The Finest Hours” is the story of their heroic mission, which is still considered the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history.
The film is produced by Jim Whitaker (“Cinderella Man”) and Dorothy Aufiero (“The Fighter”). The screenplay is by Academy Award® nominees Paul Tamsay & Eric Johnson (“The Fighter”) and Academy Award nominee Scott Silver (“The Fighter,” “8 Mile”) based on the book by Casey Sherman and Michael J. Tougias. “The Finest Hours” will be released in the U.S. in Fall, 2015.
“We are thrilled to be able to film ‘The Finest Hours’ on location in Massachusetts, and are grateful to the Massachusetts Film Office for all their support,” says Aufiero.
About the Massachusetts Film Office:
The Massachusetts Film Office is the official state agency charged with assisting film, television and digital media production throughout the Commonwealth, marketing the state to filmmakers worldwide, and supporting the growth of industry-related jobs and businesses for Massachusetts residents. The office is located at 10 Park Plaza, Boston, within the Mass. Office of Travel + Tourism. Lisa Stout, Director. Phone: 617-973-8400. Website: www.mafilm.org.
About Walt Disney Studios:
For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.
# # #
PRESS CONTACTS:
Walt Disney Studios Global Publicity
Global Publicity (LA)
Michelle Rasic
E-mail: michelle.rasic@disney.com
Global Publicity (NY)
Derek Del Rossi
E-mail: derek.del.rossi@disney.com