Mayday 109 is a World War II survival thriller based on the true story of John F. Kennedy’s command of patrol torpedo boat PT-109. The film has been in development since 2015, when producers Beau Flynn and Basil Iwanyk acquired a Black List script by Samuel Franco and Evan Kilgore.
The script landed on the 2015 Black List of well-liked, unproduced screenplays. It was put into development shortly after, with Thunder Road and FlynnPictureCo backing the project.
The True Story Behind Mayday 109
On August 2, 1943, Kennedy was the commander of PT-109 in the South Pacific when the boat was rammed by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri. Two crewmen were killed in the explosion.
Kennedy led the 11 surviving sailors in swimming to a deserted island. He later swam over two miles to two other islands in search of help and food, eventually leading his men to Olasana Island.
The crew was presumed dead by Allied forces. Kennedy scrawled an SOS message on a coconut, which helped local islanders and rescuers locate the survivors. The story of his heroics later became a key part of his public image and political career.
Cast and Director Attached
Ansel Elgort was initially cast as the young John F. Kennedy in 2017. The casting was reported by Variety and Deadline, with Elgort coming off his role in Baby Driver.
More recently, Bill SkarsgÃĨrd has been rumored to take over the role. In 2023, multiple outlets reported that SkarsgÃĨrd was in talks to play JFK, with the film now titled Mayday.
James Gray, known for Armageddon Time and Ad Astra, is attached to direct. Gray has rewritten the screenplay originally by Samuel Franco and Evan Kilgore. Marc Butan of MadRiver Pictures will produce with Anthony Katagas.
In a statement, Gray said, ‘It is an honor to be part of this project with the fantastic team of producers at MadRiver. JFK is a figure who has captured the world’s attention for decades, as an American president, an ally of the civil rights movement, and a cultural icon. But this is a unique opportunity to sweep away the myth and explore a side we know nothing about.’
Production Status
The film has no official release date yet. It was previously listed for a 2025 release on some international databases, but that date has not been confirmed by the studio. Production is expected to begin once casting and scheduling are finalized.
The story was previously adapted for the screen in 1963 as PT 109, starring Cliff Robertson as Kennedy. That film was released while Kennedy was still in office. The new project aims to offer a more personal look at his wartime experience and his relationship with his father.