Netflix has lined up stars from True Blood and Fear the Walking Dead for a drama film based on an incredible true story.
The streamer is making a film out of the 2010 story of Aussie Jessica Watson's quest to navigate around the world completely on her own — at only age 16!
Watson's journey captivated the entire globe, as the world watched the teenager battle the odds of navigating the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans without any assistance. The feat would land her the Young Australian of the Year award.
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In Netflix's film True Spirit, Watson will be played by former Home and Away and current Titans star Teagan Croft.
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Emmy-nominated True Blood star Anna Paquin and Mortal Kombat actor Josh Lawson have been cast as Watson's parents Julie and Roger, according to Deadline.
Former Fear the Walking Dead star Cliff Curtis has also joined True Spirit's cast as Jessica Watson's coach Ben Bryant.
Netflix has picked Around the Block filmmaker Sarah Spillane to adapt Watson's memoir True Spirit, with Space Oddity's Rebecca Banner also contributing to the screenplay.
Watson will be consulting with the Australian production team of True Spirit to ensure accuracy when filming gets underway later in 2021.
The now 28-year-old is one of the most decorated young athletes in Australia, having been recognised by the country's Sport Hall of Fame and honoured by the esteemed National Geographic Society.
The project will be a homecoming of sports for Paquin, as she grew up in neighbouring New Zealand and had her breakthrough as a child actor in the Australian/New Zealand film The Piano.
No release date for True Spirit has been announced.
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Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
