The Lost Bus premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and is directed by Paul Greengrass, best known for United 93 and the Bourne movies. The newly released film revolves around a bus driver who saves 22 children and a teacher from a deadly fire.
Here’s an overview of the feature:
It’s not just about survival, but also resilience and hope amid chaos, which is precisely why people are looking forward to watching The Lost Bus on their home screens after its theatrical debut on September 19, 2025. And perhaps after learning about the movie’s background, cast, and filming, you’d also want to tune in right away!
So here’s everything you need to know about The Lost Bus!
Is Matthew McConaughey’s The Lost Bus Based on a True Story?
The Lost Bus adapts Lizzie Johnson’s Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire, and yes, at its core, the movie is based on a true story. It dramatizes one of the most harrowing real-life rescues that occurred during the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California. The deadliest wildfire in the state’s history burned through Butte County for over two weeks (via ABQ Journal).
Amidst the chaos, Kevin McKay, a school bus driver, teamed up with teacher Mary Ludwig to rescue 22 elementary school students trapped between the encroaching fire. They fought with nothing but one extinguisher and a single water bottle, and went through the flames for 30 miles, nearly five hours, until every child was reunited with their family (via Mirror).
What Happened to the Real Heroic Driver, Kevin McKay?
After the fire, Kevin McKay completely reshaped his life and went back to California State University-Chico to earn a degree in history. He became a teacher at Fair View High School, and now, he continues to inspire people through his real-life actions (via Mirror).
He spoke about The Lost Bus in an interview with Action News Now, and said: “Hearing that it was going to become a Hollywood motion picture was surreal, but it was also an honour.” As of now, he is still with his long-time girlfriend and enjoys a life of adventures and hikes.
About Which Fire Is The Lost Bus Based On?
The Lost Bus is based on the 2018 Camp Fire, sparked by faulty PG&E equipment, the blaze destroyed Paradise and displaced over 50,000 people, killing 85 residents (via Time). Director Paul Greengrass was drawn to the tragedy because “It was a story based on real people.”
He used the book One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire as the foundation for his script. By focusing on the heroic actions of Kevin McKay and Mary Ludwig, Greengrass transformed the story into something that would be fit for cinema, while also bringing the reality of a global environmental disaster to the screen.
Who Is Cast in The Lost Bus?
Matthew McConaughey leads The Lost Bus’ powerful ensemble as Kevin McKay. The actor’s son, Levi, portrays McKay’s son, Shaun, and his mother, Kay McConaughey, takes on the role of the bus driver’s on-screen mother, Sherry McKay, adding a personal touch to the movie.
America Ferrera stars as Mary Ludwig, the teacher who collaborated with McKay. The supporting cast includes Yul Vázquez as the Cal Fire battalion chief, Ray Martinez, whereas Ashile Atkinson appears as Ruby, the dispatcher who worked tirelessly from afar.
Other talented actors in the movie are Kate Wharton as Jen Kissoon, Danny McCarthy as McKenzie, Spencer Watson as Hopkins, Gary Kraus as Sheriff Thomas, and Nathan Gariety as Levi.
Where Was The Lost Bus Filmed?
The story unfolded in Paradise, California, but the filming didn’t take place there. Since it would be insensitive to shoot in the very community that’s been traumatized by the events, the creatives of The Lost Bus thought it was best to use the landscape of New Mexico (via ABQ Journal).
So, the most prominent parts of The Lost Bus have been filmed around Santa Fe, Española, and Ruidoso. They employed around 2,500 New Mexicans, which included 480 crew members and 2,100 background actors
How to Watch The Lost Bus?
After a limited theatrical run, The Lost Bus is now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, and the official release date is October 3, 2025. The platform offers a single ad-free plan at $12.99 a month, but if you’re a new user, you can take advantage of a seven-day free trial.
So, will you tune in for Matthew McConaughey’s big-screen comeback or the intense true story?
The Lost Bus is currently streaming on Apple TV+ (USA).
