The Lost Bus: McConaughey stars in Camp Fire rescue on Apple TV

Matthew McConaughey stars as a real‑life school bus driver who rescued 22 children during the 2018 Camp Fire in The Lost Bus, a survival drama that premiered in cinemas in late September and launched globally on Apple TV on October 3. The film, directed by Paul Greengrass and based on Lizzie Johnson's nonfiction book Paradise, recreates the harrowing November 8, 2018 evacuation from Paradise, California in which bus driver Kevin McKay returned to save a stranded class from the fast‑moving blaze.

Greengrass co-wrote the screenplay with Brad Ingelsby and adapted Johnson's reporting for the screen. McConaughey plays McKay opposite America Ferrera, who portrays Mary Ludwig, the second grade teacher who aided the rescue. The cast also includes Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson and Levi McConaughey. Producers listed on the project include Gregory Goodman, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jason Blum. The film runs about 130 minutes and was one of Apple TV's higher‑profile releases following a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5.

McConaughey said the true story gave him added motivation to join the project, describing the screenplay's "bones" as compelling and noting that...