Paul Greengrass’ ‘Lost Bus’ to Star Matthew McConaughey and Jamie Lee Curtis

Last November, I had exclusively reported on a project that filmmaker Paul Greengrass was working on for Apple TV, titled “Lost Bus.” I had mentioned that this would be Greengrass’ next film.

Deadline is now corroborating my report and adding that Matthew McConaughey and Jamie Lee Curtis have been cast in the lead roles.

The film is said to be based on the infamous 2018 California wildfire known as “Camp Fire”. The film’s story will be told via the perspective of heroic bus driver Kevin McKay and school teacher Mary Ludwig, who helped navigate a bus full of children through deadly wildfire in the town of Paradise. Here’s the synopsis:

On November 8, 2018, the people of Paradise, California, awoke to a mottled gray sky and gusty winds. Soon the Camp Fire was upon them, gobbling an acre a second. Less than two hours after the fire ignited, the town was engulfed in flames, the residents trapped in their homes and cars. By the next morning, eighty-five people were dead. The story centers on bus driver Kevin McKay and school teacher Mary Ludwig who helped navigate a bus full of children through a deadly wildfire.

The 2018 Camp Fire was the subject of Netflix’s 2019 documentary “Fire in Paradise”. Greengrass’ film is based on a screenplay written by screenwriter Brad Ingelsby, best known for his work on HBO’s ‘Mare of Easttown.’ and the Ben Affleck sports drama ‘The Way Back.’

Last November, it had been announced that Greengrass would direct Warner Bros’ adaptation of the bestselling novel “Drowning”, but sources tell Deadline that script work is still being done on that one and that the plan is for Greengrass to shoot “The Lost Bus” first.

Greengrass’ last film was 2020’s “News of the World,” which received good reviews, but nowhere near the accolades Greengrass was used to getting.

Greengrass made the use of handheld camera “hip” in Hollywood with his 'Bourne' movies and, by all accounts, he should most definitely be put on a list of the most influential action filmmakers of the 21st century. His very best work —"Captain Phillips," "United 93," "Blood Sunday”—are these heroic stories of unimaginable horror mixed with edge of your seat thrills.