Is Apple TV+ Series “Dear Edward” Based on a True Story?

Is Apple TV+’s Dear Edward Based on a True Story

Is Dear Edward Based on a True Story? – Dear Edward will debut on Apple TV+ on February 3, 2023. The ten-episode television series focuses on a 12-year-old child who is the sole survivor of an airplane crash. Uncertainties surround the series premiere, such as whether or not the story it recounts is based on actual events. All information regarding Dear Edward can be found in the parts listed below.

Dial Press published the Dear Edward book on January 6, 2020. This was the third book written by Ann Napolitano. It debuted at number two on The New York Times’ list of best sellers. In February 2022, Apple TV stated that it would acquire the novel and adapt it into a television series.

Connie Britton, Colin O’Brien, and Taylor Schilling feature in the new Apple TV+ series from the creator of Friday Night Lights and Parenthood. Three episodes will be broadcast on February 3, 2023, followed by seven episodes until March 24, 2023.

Is Dear Edward Based on a True Story

Is Dear Edward Based on a True Story?

Jason Katims adapted ‘Dear Edward’ from Ann Napolitano’s 2020 novel of the same name, which was inspired by the tragedy of Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 on May 12, 2010. On that flight, there were 104 passengers in all (including the crew). Ruben van Assouw, a nine-year-old Dutch boy, was the lone survivor.

Ruben’s family perished in the plane crash alongside his older brother and father, as did Edward’s. The incident occurred on the family’s travel from South Africa to the Netherlands. Ruben was discovered by rescuers still wearing his seatbelt among the wreckage of Flight 771, which had departed Johannesburg, South Africa, and exploded while landing in Tripoli, Libya.

Ruben’s relatives, uncle Jeroen van der Sande and aunt Ingrid van Assouw, rushed to Libya to join him. The Associated Press says that they informed Ruben of what had transpired a few days later. Ruben had returned to the Netherlands by May 15th. In an interview with Library Journal, Napolitano explained why she was fascinated by Ruben’s story.

The American author claimed that he couldn’t let go because he was “extremely concerned for Ruben” and “really intrigued” by Ruben’s ability to move on from such a traumatic occurrence. After he was discharged from the hospital, Ruben’s aunt and uncle did an excellent job of keeping his medical information confidential, so I was unaware of his improvement. To make the character believable, I had to create a universe in which a young boy who had suffered so many losses could nonetheless mature into a complete person. I had to write to convince myself that he would be okay.

Real Ruben van Assouw survivor

In her book, Napolitano structured Edward’s recovery according to Maslow’s hierarchy. She stated in an interview with Authorlink, “I spent years attempting to give Edward’s plot structure or a believable arc.” Walking such a narrow line of emotion at times was paralyzing [both for Edward and for me as the author]. The fact that my husband modeled his development after Maslow’s hierarchy of needs made perfect sense to me. Maslow illustrated the hierarchy as a triangle, with the wide base indicating physical survival (which is essential for our survival as humans) and the point signifying self-actualization.

The emotional depth of Napolitano’s novel convinced Katims that it would make a fantastic television series. Consequently, I became utterly enamored with it. “I wanted to write a story about people overcoming obstacles,” he told EW.

Connie Britton, who previously collaborated with Jason Katims on Friday Night Lights, reprises her role as Katims’ invention Dee Dee in ‘Dear Edward,’ their first collaboration since.

‘ I’ve always wanted to work with Jason again, but it appears that you both require some time apart first. To be successful, one must achieve the optimal place. Britton told Deadline, “When I received a reply from him, I was overjoyed.”

The show “Dear Edward” examines loss and rehabilitation with integrity. Katims told EW, “It’s not afraid to address grief, which is remarkable.” There is also a great deal of heart, romance, and all the other qualities I seek in a television series. Overall, “Dear Edward” borrows from real life in a few instances and is not wholly devoid of facts.

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