Streaming giant Netflix is set to release a new documentary detailing the OceanGate submersible tragedy, which claimed five people’s lives during an ill-fated expedition to the Titanic wreck site.
Titled “Titan: The OceanGate Disaster”, the film is directed by Mark Monroe, known for his work on “Gone Girl” and “Britney vs Spears”. It will debut at the Tribeca Film Festival and become available for streaming on Netflix starting June 11.
A teaser for the documentary, accompanied by the tagline “The deeper you look, the darker it gets,” has already been released, hinting at a probing examination of the circumstances surrounding the catastrophic dive.
“When the Titan submersible went missing, I was horrified and mesmerized by the 24/7 news coverage and global social commentary — just like the rest of the world. There was no context for what could have happened to those onboard, and the only touchpoint was the Titanic — a story that’s now become a grim fairy tale.” – Director Mark Monroe
What to Expect from Netflix’s Titan
The documentary goes over the June 2023 expedition, when a commercial submersible called “Titan” went missing on a deep dive trip to the Titanic wreck along the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Over the next few days, the accident gained worldwide headlines.
The submersible, hailed by its designer Stockton Rush as an innovation in affordable deep-sea travel, was subsequently discovered to have exploded while descending, killing all five people on board instantly.
“Titan: The OceanGate Disaster” takes a look at the years leading up to the catastrophe, unravelling Rush’s dream of changing the face of deep-sea exploration and his quest for respect within the industry. The movie ends with the disastrous expedition that captivated the world’s attention.
In an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, director Mark Monroe explained his motivation:
“When the Titan submersible went missing, I was horrified and mesmerized by the 24/7 news coverage and global social commentary — just like the rest of the world. There was no context for what could have happened to those onboard, and the only touchpoint was the Titanic — a story that’s now become a grim fairy tale. The more I dug into this terrible tragedy, the more intrigued I became about how this could have ever happened in the first place, and who exactly was the man who built and then went down with this ship. We hope that this film can help provide answers to these very questions.”
