After making the incredible Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo and the critically-acclaimed The Rescue, husband-and-wife filmmaking duo Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin were searching for their next project. However, this time they wanted to helm a narrative feature, making their first foray into that world. And for that, the astonishing real-life story of Diana Nyad felt like the perfect fit.
If you are unfamiliar with the remarkable tale, Nyad is one of the most famous swimmers in the world, making a name for herself after completing the staggering 110-mile, 53-hour-long trek from Cuba to Florida unaided without a shark cage. Making that achievement even more impressive is the fact that she initially attempted it in 1978, only returning to the mission when she turned 60 in 2010 after a 30-year retirement. Nyad then finally succeeded with her fifth attempt at the age of 64 in 2013.
