Weinstein Co. Acquires Movies Rights Based On John Aldridge's Rescue

Weinstein Co. has obtained the screen rights to "A Speck in the Sea," a recent cover story in The New York Times magazine about the rescue of Montauk lobster fisherman this summer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Oscar nominee Rachel Horovitz and Jason Blum, who has produced top horror movies, will reportedly produce the adaptation with Harvey Weinstein. Bob Weinstein will executive produce.

John Aldridge fell off the "Anna Mary" in the middle of the night on July 24 while his partner Anthony Sosinski was asleep. He wasn't discovered missing until daylight, sparking a massive search. He was was found after 12 hours of floating at sea.

By reconstructing the voyage and analyzing the evidence on board, which included a broken handle on a cooler, the Coast Guard developed a search area of 1,100 square miles, which stretched from Montauk to 50 nautical miles offshore. Dozens of fishermen helped comb the waters for him before he was spotted by a Coast Guard helicopter.

The Times story was published on Jan. 2.

Fishermen and Coast Guard Station Montauk members, who helped find Aldridge, were presented with the Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation in December.