Free Solo Directors To Helm Adaptation Of the Michael Crichton Book, Eruption

Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, the directorial power couple behind the incredible climbing documentary Free Solo, are set to adapt the latest novel from Michael Crichton and James Patterson, Eruption, into a feature film. The project is currently for sale with the pair attached to direct the movie, with talks beginning next week (per Deadline). The project would move the pair firmly away from their documentary and biopic roots as Eruption is an international disaster novel about a volcano explosion in Hawaii. The official synopsis for Eruption reads:

“A history-making eruption is about to destroy the Big Island of Hawaii. But a secret held for decades by the US military is far more terrifying than any volcano.”

Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi saw their directorial careers achieve new heights when their documentary Free Solo, telling the incredible story of climber Alex Honnold who became the first person to climb El Capitan (Yosemite National Park) without ropes, won the Oscar for best Documentary Feature in 2019, achieving international acclaim from audiences and critics. The pair have already made their narrative feature debut, directing Nyad in 2023, telling the true story of Diana Nyad (Annette Bening), who swam 110 miles between Cuba and Florida at the age of 60.

Eruption was a two-decade passion project for acclaimed author Michael Crichton. The book was among one of many unfinished manuscripts left behind by Crichton after his death in 2008. Beloved author James Patterson (Alex Cross) recently finished the novel, which shot to the top of multiple bestseller lists after it was released just yesterday (June 6). Michael Crichton is perhaps best known for writing Jurassic Park (both the original novel and the movie adaptation). However, the iconic writer is also behind other blockbuster hits like the original Twister (1996) and Westworld (the book and the 1973 movie adaptation).

What Happened to Free Solo’s Alex Honnold?

Free Solo is considered to be one of the most stress-inducing, palm-sweating documentaries made in recent years. The doc follows Honnold’s life as he prepares to climb the 3,000ft rock face with no safety equipment. Audiences see Honnold climb the rock face many times using ropes to prepare the perfect route, and explore his growing relationship with his girlfriend (now wife) Sanni McCandless. After a tense build-up, audiences have to sit through 20 grueling minutes of watching Honnold risk his life to climb El Capitan.

Wanring, SPOILER ALERT, as Free Solo has a happy ending as Alex Honnold climbed the colossal structure in just 3 hours and 56 minutes – a climb which takes most people around 5–6 days, with ropes! Since the documentary released in 2018, Honnold has become a prolific figure in the climbing community, amassing three million followers on Instagram and earning sponsorship deals from multiple climbing-related companies. Shortly after completing the climb, Alex Honnold decided it wasn’t enough and climbed it again, this time with his girlfriend and safety equipment.