After spending 69 days trapped in a mine and now finally being reunited with their families, the 33 Chilean miners who have now almost all been rescued can look forward to one more inevitable development — a film based on their story! There is the colorful Sepulveda Espina, aka Super Mario, who came bearing souvenirs for those on the surface — rocks from the mine! Then there is the Chilean president and, perhaps most interesting, the wife and mistress of miner Yonni Barrios. Awkward!

For the devoted wife no one would be better, or more adept at changing their appearance than the iconic Meryl Streep. And who better than firey Salma Hayek as the woman trying to steal her man Yonni, played by Antonio Banderas.

Javier Bardem has the perfect pedigree to play Chilean president Sebastián Piñera and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson could be hysterical as Sepulveda.

The benevolent foreman Luis Urzua who organized everyone, and will be the last to leave the mine, is the perfect role for Harrison Ford.

Finally, in the role of youngest miner Jimmy Sanchez we would love to see our favorite Twilight werewolf, Taylor Lautner.

As for directors, our sister site Movieline offers some pretty great options in Danny Boyle, Ron Howard, Kathryn Bigelow, and action film legend Michael Bay.

Take a look at our picks to play these heroic men and some of the other characters in this ongoing story. What are your thoughts HollywoodLifers?

One of the most heartwarming stories of 2010 was the drama of the Copiapó mining accident in which 33 Chilean miners — ranging in age from 19 to 63 — were trapped 2,300 feet underground for 69 days.  Thanks to NASA technology, all 33 men were saved — and now, their miraculous story is going to be made into a movie! 

Mike Medavoy — who grew up in Santiago as a young boy — has acquired the rights for the movie, as well as the rights to a book about the incident.  He has commissioned Oscar-nominated writer Jose Rivera to pen the script, as well as Chilean businessman, Carlos E. Lavin to finance the film.

The Amadeus producer was initially indifferent to tackling the film.  “I had the same reaction I think most people here do, ‘Do I really want to make a picture in which everybody knows the end?’”

But after a recent dinner with seven of the miners in Beverly Hills, Mike Medavoy believes the stories of each worker is more above the surface, than it is below.  “From my personal experience in dealing with the miners, they all think this is a story of unity, this is a story of coming together,” says a spokesman for the group.

Do you HollywoodLifers want to see a movie about this real-life story?

When I see a hard hat, all I can think of are the Chilean miners — that is, until little Shiloh turned up wearing one!

Some of you may think this is a stretch, but when I saw this photo of Shiloh Jolie Pitt in Budapest it looked eerily similar to the photos of the Chilean Miners emerging from the ground sporting their blue helmets and big grins. While both Shiloh and the miners have stumbled into the spotlight and really rally public interest, they have way more in common than one would think! Even Shiloh’s rugged style is comprable to the jumpsuits the miners were seen sporting — and both the miners and Brad’s little girl seem to love the great outdoors!

So, what do you think? Who wore the hard hat best?

Katrina Mitzeliotis

The 33 workers trapped over 2,000 feet underground for 69 days took a ‘pact of silence’ to never tell some of their most horrifying stories!

Finally freed from their almost grave roughly half-a-mile underground, stories are slowly beginning to emerge of the unbelievable and horrific conditions the 33 trapped miners in Chile’s San Jose mine were forced to endure. “Super” Mario Sepulveda spoke with the Daily Mail discussing the miners diet of two sips of water and a spoonful of tuna on half a cracker, which they began eating every other day before the first drill reached them on Aug. 22 — 17 days after they were first trapped!

There are some rumors however that Mario put to rest, including ones that claimed the miners were intimate with one another during their time underground. “Saying we had sex down there with each other is just plain wrong,” Mario said. “Nothing like that ever went on. We were too busy trying to survive to think of sex.”

Mario also firmly stated that the claims cannibalism had at any point been discussed by of the men were totally unfounded.

As for the Pact of Silence the miners signed, Mario said, “When you are in a stressful situation like that, you do and say things in extremes. We made the Pact of Silence to protect some of the younger, less educated ones. It was a pact of brotherhood. Originally we were not going to talk at all about the 17 days.”

To lighten the mood during their second week in the mine, which he describes as “terrible,” Mario pulled out a very interesting tactic — faking his death! “They gathered around and I was playing like I was dying and I said, very slowly, “My friends, say to my family that I love them. Tell them that the money is in the . . .” and then I pretended to expire. The others were quiet and I held my breath. Then I could hold it no more and burst out laughing,” he claims.

There’s nothing like being stuck underground for two months to inspire drastic weight loss…this could be the best diet plan ever!

When the Chilean miners got stuck more than half a mile underground, the last thing they were probably concerned about was their waist line — but when their escape plan was devised and they had to fit into a miniature capsule to be freed from the depth of the earth, their weight suddenly became critical. With the help of NASA, the men were put on a strict diet to ensure their waists weren’t bigger than 35.4 inches, and many of them even lost 20+ pounds. Talk about a successful weight loss program!

For the first 17 days of their more than two-month long stint, the guys rationed themselves on two spoonfuls of tuna, a half a cookie and a half-full glass of milk every 48 hours. That part sounds about as fun as a cayenne pepper and lemon juice cleanse on top of the earth…can you imagine how hungry you’d be?

After they were discovered and people were able to send help, the 33 men were fed hydration gel, soup and medication. Also, not ideal, but much better than the 48 hour ration.

Things started to look up for these poor guys when doctors decided to reintroduce their bodies to solids. At that point, they were kept on a strict 2,200 calorie a day diet that included meat and rice. The menu plan was designed to help them drop excess pounds and keep them from getting sick during the 45 minute bumpy ride up in the capsule Oct. 13.

The special diet worked so well that all 33 miners were in better physical health when they came up than when they got stuck in Aug. Not one of the men had lost any muscle weight — it was only fat — and everyone’s protein levels had increased!

After hearing about their weight loss success, I’m ready to try out the diet myself. Forget The Biggest Loser — all I need is two months underground to drop those extra pounds.

On second thought, perhaps I should just drag my lazy self to the gym…that’s probably a better idea.

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Yay! Celebs are just as happy about the rescue of the 33 miners who’ve been trapped half a mile underground since August, as we are!

After over two months underground, the 33 Chilean miners trapped roughly 2,257 feet below the surface following a mine collapse are finally being brought to the surface — and stars are as excited as Chileans! Kim Kardashian, always one to share her feelings on Twitter, wrote, “Wow seriously in tears watching this Chilean miner getting released on CNN! What a tough struggle they made it through!!!” Her fellow E! employee Ryan Seacrest was also overjoyed, writing, “If ur just waking up, 12 miners have been rescued in Chile, 21 to go. AMAZING work from all involved!”

They aren’t the only ones either as Jordan Sparks, Missy Elliot, Derek Hough and more took to their Twitters to enthuse about the successful rescue effort. Check out some of their tweets below!

TheRealJordin (Jordin Sparks): Lost it when the little boy saw his father. So happy these men are finally getting out of that Chilean mine. One Step at a time… :)

MissyElliott: The Chileans Miners will be a Testimony of how Real God is! Such a Blessing to see them healthy and n Great Spirits!

Jennaldewan (Jenna Dewan-Tatum): I know, unbelievable! RT @KrisLia: there are 33 HUMAN BEINGS being rescued from over 2,000 feet under ground right now, show them some love!

OfficialDHough (Derek Hough): Bless those miners…Pray pray pray…!!!!

NickyHilton: So happy the Chilean miners are being rescued and reunited with their families!

ricky_martin: CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE!!!! VENGA!!!! #FUERZAMINEROS

carrieanninaba: SO HAPPY about the rescue efforts going on for the Chilean miners. God bless them all and those who are helping them get home! AMEN!!!

ItsChelseaStaub: The first miner in Chile rises from the dark! Thanks to the amazing rescuers who have worked non-stop to rekindle the light in these lives.

kurt13warner: Praising God for rescue efforts in Chile, praying all 33 r safe & health! Miracles still happen all around us!

iamdiddy (Diddy): Theyre streaming live from the Chilean Mine Rescue —>

GavinRossdale: bush16rcz RT @SoMelificent: First Chilean miner is out!!! I can’t even imagine how their family must feel at this moment. #amazingmoments

-Chris Spargo-

Mario ‘Super Mario’ Sepulveda – 2nd Miner Rescued in Chile