Inside Not Without Hope: Cast Reflect on Survival and Loss

The survival drama Not Without Hope brings to the screen the harrowing true events of a 2009 boating mishap that claimed the lives of NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith, leaving Nick Schuyler as the only one to make it out alive. Directed by Joe Carnahan, the production was filmed entirely in Malta’s water tanks, putting the cast through a physically and emotionally demanding experience.

Portraying Real People and Bearing the Weight

Zachary Levi, who steps into the shoes of Schuyler, joined Quentin Plair (Marquis Cooper), Terrence Terrell (Corey Smith), and Marshall Cook (Will Bleakley) to chat about the unique pressures of playing real blokes whose stories ended in tragedy. The actors spoke about the responsibility they felt towards the families and mates of those they were portraying, and the challenge of balancing authenticity with their own interpretations.

“It’s incredibly important. I’m not sure I do it that well all the time, depending on the story. This is the most intense film I’ve been a part of, particularly in terms of the subject matter. When you’re an actor, you are tasting and experiencing a fraction of what actually went down in the real moments that Nick and Marquis and Corey and Will were experiencing.”

Levi described the process as “mildly traumatic”, explaining that the intense conditions in the water tank and the need to convincingly portray loss took a toll. He admitted,

“I did my best to protect myself, but it definitely wasn’t a perfect process. We made it through it together.”

Honouring Memories and Finding Freedom

For Terrell, playing Corey Smith came with a bit more freedom, as Smith wasn’t as well-known in the public eye.

“There was no video, and nobody really… he wasn’t a public figure as big as Nick is now, thanks to the book. So, I think we had a little bit more freedom than Zach did.”

Cook, who played Will Bleakley, relied on what he could find online, conversations with Schuyler, and his own experiences. He shared a moment when someone who knew Will reached out, saying,

“You’re totally channeling Will right now.”

That feedback meant a lot to him.

Plair, meanwhile, was focused on not adding to the pain of those left behind.

“Anytime you’re dealing with a true story that is as traumatic as this one, you just take it with the most sensitive gloves that you can. I personally wanted to open myself up to tell Marquise’s story and honour him as much as possible in his plight.”

Shifting Gears: From Blockbusters to Gritty Stories

Levi’s recent choices mark a move away from big-budget franchises towards more personal, character-driven tales. He’s drawn to stories that highlight resilience and the strength to push through adversity.

“I think that when given the opportunity to tell a story that inspires, if you can make people laugh or cry or jump, but also inspire them in some way to remind them of the strength of the human spirit that we all have within us, the ability to overcome any number of obstacles, it’s something I need to remind myself of constantly.”

He admitted to still struggling with self-doubt and gratitude, noting that these roles help him as much as they might help the audience. Offers for films like Unbreakable Boy, American Underdog, Sarah’s Oil, and Not Without Hope came his way, and he was drawn to them for their powerful messages.

“Is this something that I really want to go and give my energy and my life to, particularly when you know that shooting the movie is only just part of the job? This is a whole other half of the job: you have to be proud of what you did and go talk about it over and over again so that you can hopefully inspire other people to want to go out to the theatres.”

Bringing the Story to the Big Screen

Not Without Hope is set to hit cinemas on 12 December, offering punters a raw look at survival, loss, and the bonds formed in the face of disaster. The cast’s commitment to telling this story with honesty and care shines through, both on and off the screen.