Weinstein Company Acquires Movie Rights to John Aldridge's Tale of Survival
The survival story of John Aldridge, a Montauk lobsterman who was rescued after more than 12 hours lost at sea, will hit theaters sometime in the near future.
The Weinstein Company announced Friday that the filmmaking company has acquired the rights to “A Speck in the Sea,” a New York Times Magazine article by Paul Tough published earlier this month that recounts Aldridge’s tale.
Rachael Horovitz, Jason Blum and Harvey Weinstein will produce while Bob Weinstein will serve as executive producer and Weinstein Company creative executive Julie Oh will oversee development.
“Paul’s piece in the Times magazine last weekend was one of those that instantly struck us as film that had to be made,” Weinstein Company co-chairman Harvey Weinstein says. “Rachael and Jason are some of the best in the business, and seeing this amazing story come to life is going to be a wild ride.”
Aldridge was 40 miles off Montauk on July 24 when he fell off a lobster boat with no life vest and no means to signal for help. He managed to stay afloat by putting his boots under his arms for buoyancy and swimming between buoys.
Aldridge’s childhood best friend and shipmate Anthony Sosinski woke to find Aldridge missing, and a massive search and rescue operation involving the Coast Guard and the East End fishing community was launched.
“The East End is filled with people of integrity like John and Anthony—who risk their lives for one another on a daily basis,” Horovitz says. “I am so honored to be a part of this film and to be working with Harvey, Bob and Jason to bring to the screen this thrilling story of the triumphant spirit of human connection and the meaning of community when it joins together.”
Aldridge also recently told his story in the Weather Channel Films series Alive. Watch it here.