The Lost Bus

The Lost Bus is an upcoming American survival drama film directed by Paul Greengrass, who co-wrote the screenplay with Brad Ingelsby, based on the 2021 book Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire by Lizzie Johnson. It stars Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, and Ashlie Atkinson.

The Lost Bus
Release poster
Directed by	Paul Greengrass
Screenplay by	Brad Ingelsby Paul Greengrass
Based on	Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire by Lizzie Johnson
Produced by	Jamie Lee Curtis Jason Blum Brad Ingelsby Gregory Goodman
Starring	Matthew McConaughey America Ferrera Yul Vazquez Ashlie Atkinson
Cinematography	Pal Ulvik Rokseth
Music by	James Newton Howard
Production companies	Apple Studios Blumhouse Productions Comet Films
Distributed by	Apple TV+
Release date	September 19, 2025 (2025-09-19) (United States)
Running time	130 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English

It is scheduled to have its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in early September 2025, followed by a limited theatrical release in the United States on September 19, and digital streaming on Apple TV+ on October 3.

Premise

A bus driver has to navigate a bus carrying children and their teacher to safety through the 2018 Camp Fire, which became the deadliest fire in California history.^[2]

Cast

• Matthew McConaughey as Kevin McKay, the bus driver
• America Ferrera as Mary Ludwig, the school teacher
• Yul Vazquez as Ray Martinez
• Ashlie Atkinson as Ruby
• Spencer Watson as Hopkins
• Danny McCarthy as McKenzie

Production

In June 2022, Jamie Lee Curtis for Comet Films and Jason Blum for Blumhouse Productions were developing the film as producers, an adaptation of Lizzie Johnson's book Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire.^[3] In January 2024, Paul Greengrass was attached to direct, Matthew McConaughey was set to star, and Apple Inc. entered talks to distribute.^[4][5] In February 2024, America Ferrera joined the cast, and Apple was confirmed to be distributing.^[6] In May 2024, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson, and Spencer Watson joined the cast.^[7][8]

Principal photography began on April 1, 2024, in Ruidoso, New Mexico.^[9]

Release

The Lost Bus is scheduled have its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in early September 2025.^[10] It is slated to be released in select theaters on September 19 and on Apple TV+ on October 3, 2025.^[11]