McConaughey, Ferrera star in true story of survival in 'The Lost Bus'
NEW YORK (WABC) -- A powerful new movie brings the 2018 wildfire in Paradise, California, to the big screen, and the true story of the heroes who saved nearly two dozen children.
It's called "The Lost Bus," starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera.
It's incredible story of survival, ripped from the headlines.
"The Lost Bus" follows a father and bus driver, turned real life hero, during the 2018 wildfire that leveled Paradise, California.
Matthew McConaughey stars as Kevin McKay who stepped up when no one else did. He made sure 22 elementary school kids made it through the inferno and back into their parents' arms.
"The hugs were a little longer at the end of many days when I got back to see my family, my own kids," McConaughey said. "For me, the beginning was read up on I mean, read up on the events. Sit with Kevin, meet him, hear his story, ask him questions. Let him tell me what was important to him or be able to just hear how he retells the story and see what points you could tell really mattered to him and then investigate more on those points. Then it was about making him my own. You know, by the time we're shooting, I'm having my own personal experience for Matthew."
The kids' teacher played by America Ferrera, front and center during the harrowing rescue.
"I think of Mary, the person who's remarkable and was so generous and lovely and spoke to me and answered every question I had for her. And the Mary who ended up on screen is different. You know? I think about Mary as, yes, having been on a selfless journey that was about giving herself to other people, but it was also in the end, it's about her giving herself to herself and choosing the life she wants," Ferrera said.
Jamie Lee Curtis produced the project.
"So, I read an article in the Washington Post. It was a review of Lizzie Johnson's book, 'Paradise,' and there was a sidebar story of Kevin McKay and Mary Ludwig, the school bus driver and teacher who saved the lives of 22 kids. And I said out loud to my husband, well, that's the movie. That's how you make the movie. And I called Jason Blum, who's my partner, and I said, 'I want to make a movie, and I believe it'll be the most important thing either one of us does in the movie business.' And that's how the movie began," Curtis said.
She added, "I think the movie speaks for itself. I think it's a beautiful movie. It's harrowing to watch. It makes you think."
It hits different for parents, Curtis admitted.
"Well, can you imagine can you imagine your kids are on that school bus, and for eight hours, you don't know where they are?" she said.
"I kept thinking about how many Kevins and Marys there are out there," Eyewitness News Entertainment Reporter Joelle Garguilo said.
"Well, but that's exactly right because that's the human story," Curtis said.
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