'It’s disrespectful': Outrage erupts over rumoured Titan submersible movie
- Replies 3
Rumours began circulating recently that Hollywood was planning to release a movie about the tragic OceanGate Titan submersible disaster that took the lives of five people in June 2023. Based on said rumours, the alleged movie will be featuring an all-star cast.
Almost overnight, the internet was abuzz with news about the movie, and a wave of backlash soon spread across social media.
MindRiot Entertainment has reportedly begun turning the tragedy of the Titan submersible into a feature-length film under the working title Salvage, with co-writers Justin MacGregor and Jonathan Keasey and producer E. Brian Dobbins at the helm.
'The Titan Tragedy is yet another example of a misinformed and quick-to-pounce system, in this case, our non-stop, 24-7 media cycle that convicts and ruins the lives of so many people without any due process,' Keasey, a lawyer-turned-filmmaker said.
He continued: 'Our film will not only honour all those involved in the submersible tragedy and their families, but the feature will serve as a vessel that also addresses a more macro concern about the nature of media today.'
'Truth is all that matters. And the world has a right to know the truth, always, not the salacious bait crammed down our throats by those seeking their five minutes of fame.'
'Life is not black and white. It’s complicated. There’s nuance. Always nuance.'
Social media users claimed that it was 'too soon' for Hollywood to get involved as the tragedy only happened back in June.
'Seems too soon,' one said.
'Hopefully, a documentary rather than a live-action one—and even a documentary seems kinda too soon,' another added.
'Hasn’t even been a year, y’all are sick,' a third commented.
While a fourth expressed: 'You shouldn’t mock the dead, it’s disrespectful. More disrespectful than dramatising, recreating and then profiting off those dead.'
However, some users were not as dismissive of the film, with one saying: 'I will be seated, [but] my commentary [is going to] be ruthless.'
But where does the story of the OceanGate Titan submersible begin, and why does it really matter?
The eight-day expedition of the OceanGate Titan submersible—worth $250,000 USD or around $397,000 AUD—allowed customers to get close to the remnants of the Titanic nearly a century after the famous ship’s demise. However, after just a few hours, it lost contact with its mothership.
The expedition claimed the lives of its passengers, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani Businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Sulaiman, and OceanGate’s CEO himself, Stockton Rush.
Almost immediately after the tragedy, questions were raised over the safety of OceanGate’s vehicles.
But this is not the first time an OceanGate submersible had gotten lost while on a voyage. In 2022, the submersible went dark for a few hours after the ship that was guiding it lost signal of the vehicle.
In 2018, the group also faced 'quality control and safety' problems after the former Director of Marine Operations, David Lochridge, raised a major issue with the organisation’s handling of the submersible.
He claimed that he found a 'lack of non-destructive testing performed on the hull of the Titan'. Yet, according to a lawsuit he filed that year, he was wrongfully terminated when he raised the issues with OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush.
Members, what are your thoughts on this film project? Is it too soon? Let us know in the comments below.
Almost overnight, the internet was abuzz with news about the movie, and a wave of backlash soon spread across social media.
MindRiot Entertainment has reportedly begun turning the tragedy of the Titan submersible into a feature-length film under the working title Salvage, with co-writers Justin MacGregor and Jonathan Keasey and producer E. Brian Dobbins at the helm.
A feature-length film on The Titan submersible tragedy is reportedly underway. Image source: Becky Kagan Schott (left), Freepik (right).
'The Titan Tragedy is yet another example of a misinformed and quick-to-pounce system, in this case, our non-stop, 24-7 media cycle that convicts and ruins the lives of so many people without any due process,' Keasey, a lawyer-turned-filmmaker said.
He continued: 'Our film will not only honour all those involved in the submersible tragedy and their families, but the feature will serve as a vessel that also addresses a more macro concern about the nature of media today.'
'Truth is all that matters. And the world has a right to know the truth, always, not the salacious bait crammed down our throats by those seeking their five minutes of fame.'
'Life is not black and white. It’s complicated. There’s nuance. Always nuance.'
Social media users claimed that it was 'too soon' for Hollywood to get involved as the tragedy only happened back in June.
'Seems too soon,' one said.
'Hopefully, a documentary rather than a live-action one—and even a documentary seems kinda too soon,' another added.
'Hasn’t even been a year, y’all are sick,' a third commented.
While a fourth expressed: 'You shouldn’t mock the dead, it’s disrespectful. More disrespectful than dramatising, recreating and then profiting off those dead.'
However, some users were not as dismissive of the film, with one saying: 'I will be seated, [but] my commentary [is going to] be ruthless.'
But where does the story of the OceanGate Titan submersible begin, and why does it really matter?
The eight-day expedition of the OceanGate Titan submersible—worth $250,000 USD or around $397,000 AUD—allowed customers to get close to the remnants of the Titanic nearly a century after the famous ship’s demise. However, after just a few hours, it lost contact with its mothership.
The expedition claimed the lives of its passengers, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani Businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Sulaiman, and OceanGate’s CEO himself, Stockton Rush.
Almost immediately after the tragedy, questions were raised over the safety of OceanGate’s vehicles.
But this is not the first time an OceanGate submersible had gotten lost while on a voyage. In 2022, the submersible went dark for a few hours after the ship that was guiding it lost signal of the vehicle.
In 2018, the group also faced 'quality control and safety' problems after the former Director of Marine Operations, David Lochridge, raised a major issue with the organisation’s handling of the submersible.
He claimed that he found a 'lack of non-destructive testing performed on the hull of the Titan'. Yet, according to a lawsuit he filed that year, he was wrongfully terminated when he raised the issues with OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush.
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