Ethan Hawke, Daniel Radcliffe and Jessica Biel Cast in BATSO About The Trailblazers Who Climbed El Capitan
Ethan Hawke (Training Day), Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise), and Jessica Biel (Sinner) are set to star in a thrilling new film titled Batso. The movie will tell the true story of a trio of trailblazing mountain climbers who took on the most difficult route up the iconic peak of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in the ‘70s.
The synopsis for the film reads: “In 1970, ‘The Wall of Early Morning Light’ was an unthinkable climb. For larger-than-life climbing legends Warren ‘Batso’ Harding and Dean Caldwell, it represented a near-impossible physical and mental challenge. For iconoclast Batso, it also offered one last chance to stick it to the naysayers who thought him too old, too out of touch and too crazy. For novice Dean, it was a way to see beyond his 9-to-5 existence and unlock the awesome potential of the human spirit.”
It’s explained: “What began as an almost farcical exercise became one of the great underdog stories in the history of the sport. The estimated 10-day climb stretched into a 28-day marathon of grit and determination that sparked a media sensation.”
That sounds like it will make for a great and intense movie! Hawke will take on the role of Warren “Batso” Harding, Radcliffe will play Dean Caldwell, who were the first climbers to take on the famously difficult sheer face El Capitan route known as ‘The Wall of Early Morning Light.’ Biel will play Beryl Knauth, “a trailblazing climber in her own right and Warren’s romantic partner.”
The Yosemite website says: “The pair was forced to wait out storms while on the wall and to drill extensively through areas that looked to be more natural from the ground. They started the climb with 15 days of provisions but required 27 days to finally make the summit. The National Park Service mounted a rescue for the team when they were mid-route, but Harding and Caldwell famously refused and continued their epic ascent unaided. They were met on the summit by throngs of media.”
Kyle Marvin (80 for Brady) will direct the film from a script written by Eamon O’Sullivan. Marvin said in a statement: “The people who live in the world of professional climbing may seem to be doing something extreme, but in reality, their actions are a mirror of our lives. We all have a Dawn Wall we are destined to summit, or die trying.”
This is such an incredible story and it’s awesome to see that it’s being made into a film with this cast!
Source: Deadline