HONOLULU – The story of shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton (search) has been featured in newspapers, magazines and on TV shows across the country, now it's headed to the big screen.
Romano/Shane Productions of Los Angeles has bought the film rights for the Kauai teen's upcoming biography, "Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family and Fighting to Get Back on the Board," which is scheduled for release this fall.
"This is a little girl whose life could have been fully destroyed, but she seized the moment and turned it around in a positive light," said producer Michel Shane. "Bethany is a shining light with a great, compelling story of overcoming adversity."
The 14-year-old from Princeville, on Kauai, was thrust into the national spotlight after losing her left arm in a shark attack Oct. 31, 2003.
Romano/Shane Productions paid Hamilton an undisclosed amount for the film rights. Shane, partner Anthony Romano and Roy Hofstetter, Hamilton's representative, will produce the project with financier Hand Picked Films.
Shane and Romano said they've put production on the "fast track" and are talking to screenwriters about the project.
"If everything goes according to plan, we'll be in production early next year in Hawaii," said Shane, who was not sure if filming would be done on Oahu (search) or Kauai.
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