Cast: Joaquin Phoenix (Jack), John Travolta (Chief Kennedy), Jacinda Barrett, Billy Burke, Kevin Chapman (Frank), Morris Chestnut (Tommy), Scott Cooper (Billy), Kevin Daniels, Balthazar Getty, Tim Guinee (Tony McMillan), Brooke Hamlin, Jay Hernandez (Keith Ellis), Robert Patrick; other cast not announced yet.

Cast Notes: (2/11/03) Though she's also scored roles in The Human Stain and Urban Legends: Final Cut, Jacinda Barrett, whose role here as Phoenix's wife is probably her career high, probably remains best known for being one of the cast members of the fourth season of MTV's "The Real World" (London).

Director: Jay Russell (My Dog Skip, Tuck Everlasting, End of the Line)

Screenwriter: Lewis Colick (October Sky, Domestic Disturbance, Ghosts of Mississippi, Judgment Night, Unlawful Entry)

Premise: Trapped in a fire that looks likely to kill him, a fireman Phoenix takes the opportunity to look back over his life, career and marriage, while he waits for his company, Ladder 49, to rescue him, if they can... (Travolta plays Phoenix's fire chief and mentor; Barrett plays his wife; Cooper plays the "grunge" rocker that his wife was dating before him; Hamlin plays Phoenix's daughter).

Filming Notes: (2/11/03) The filming will have to be filmed quickly and go through postproduction in a timely fashion as well to make that early November, 2003 release date that Touchstone is targeting. The production is hoping to wrap up in May, 2003. (2/14/03) Sure enough... Touchstone is no longer aiming for November, 2003, giving the production more time to do the necessary effects work. (6/14/03) Filming did indeed wrap up in late May, 2003.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense fire and rescue situations, and for language)
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures (Disney)
Production Company: Casey Silver Productions ( Hidalgo)

http://ladder49.movies.go.com/main.html?