Rugby World Cup: Japan’s miracle victory over South Africa in Brighton to be turned into movie featuring Jango Fett as Eddie Jones
It has been called the greatest upset in rugby history and now the story will be told on the big screen
Award-winning Australian writer and director Max Mannix said on Tuesday that while there were still a few logistical issues to sort out, filming of the movie tentatively titled The Brighton Miracle will commence in January on Australia’s Gold Coast.
“What Eddie Jones and his team did in 2015 was truly magnificent and worthy of being remembered,” said Mannix, who was part of the writing team on the production T okyo Sonata that won Best Film at the Third Asian Film Awards and Prix Un Certain Regard at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival before he moved behind the camera to direct Gary Oldman in the action thriller Rain Fall.
“The story goes beyond rugby in the same way Chariots of Fire wasn’t just about running. That was more a film about the distinction between class, belief and religion,” Mannix said.
“No one gave the Japan team a chance against South Africa, who at the time were the most successful Rugby World Cup team in history,” he added. “The result was celebrated around the world. What I want to do is try and show why it happened and where did the self-belief come from?”
The 53-year-old former professional rugby league player, who has spent much of his time as a writer and director in Japan, confirmed an all-star international cast had been assembled with New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison, who played Jango Fett in Star Wars and the village chief in Moana, set to take the role of coach Jones and Australian Uli Latukefu portraying Brave Blossoms captain Michael Leitch
