Disney to make TV film and book of mining rescue drama

Disney to make TV film and book of mining rescue drama

(Ananova) -- Disney is to sign a deal for the book and TV film rights to the story of the rescued Pennsylvania miners.

The nine men were trapped for 77 hours when more than 50 million gallons of water gushed into their mine.

A two-hour television film will be made about the rescue operation, reports Variety.

Disney's publishing operation Hyperion is also expected to bring out a book about the drama as part of a deal reported to be worth seven figures.

The TV movie could be screened in the US during the 2002-2003 season.

Quecreek miners sell story to Disney for $150,000 each

Quecreek miners sell story to Disney for $150,000 each
August 3, 2002 4:14 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (The Nando Times/AP) -- The nine Pennsylvania coal miners who were trapped underground for 77 hours have sold the TV and book rights to their story to The Walt Disney Co. for $150,000 each, their lawyer said Saturday.

The deal includes a movie for Disney's ABC network and a book to be published by the Burbank company's Hyperion Publishing division, Pittsburgh attorney Thomas Crawford said in an interview.

Crawford said he received more than 120 offers for the miners' stories.

The miners were working July 24 in the Quecreek Mine in western Pennsylvania when it flooded. They huddled together 240 feet underground, subsisting on little more than a corned beef sandwich split nine ways, as their rescue effort transfixed the nation.

Early Sunday morning, July 28, all nine were pulled up alive.

Several miners contacted Saturday referred questions to Crawford. Messages left for representatives of ABC and Disney were not immediately returned.

Why does this just look like another desperate attempt by Disney to get quick ratings for failing ABC?