Although stories of UFO's and alien abductions have become fodder for science fiction stories, the very first real-life reported case in the United States of people being abducted, experimented on, and returning with their memories of what happened intact is getting the silver screen treatment only now.
The producers of The Maze Runner have taken up the project of telling the story of Betty and Barney Hill for the first time on the big screen. The movie will be adapted from the 2007 book about the incident penned by Betty's Hill's niece, Kathleen Marden, along with nuclear physicist, Stanton Freidman. The movie will carry the same title as the book, Captured.
Sept. 19 to 21, 1961 were the alleged dates that the Hills were taken aboard a UFO. According to their accounts, as well as the story told in the non-fiction book, they were only able to piece together what happened to them after being put under hypnosis.
In addition to their report being dismissed as absurd, the Hills' story also reflects some deeper socio-political issues in the U.S. 54 years ago. The Hills were an interracial couple from Portsmouth, N.H in the early 1960's – an era of tension fueled by racial segregation between blacks and whites, as well as Cold War paranoia.
The story has been adapted into a made for TV movie back in 1975 titled The UFO Incident (Interrupted Journey), starring James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons as the couple who was abducted and experimented on by alien beings.
Captured will reportedly be written by Bryce Zabel, a former CNN correspondent who is very familiar with the subject. He is also the creator of the NBC alien series Dark Skies, which had an episode which featured the couple, played by Basil Wallace and Lee Garlington, in 1996. He is also part of the development team for Steven Spielberg-produced Taken, where the Hills' encounter was also discussed.
The movie will be produced by Eric Robinson on behalf of the production company Gotham/Principal.
“We look forward to sharing Betty and Barney Hill’s incredible encounter with audiences all around the world,” he said of the project.
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