NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)- On April 20th, 2010, one of the world’s largest man-made disasters occurred on the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico.

The film follows the vital story that many have not seen: the story of the 126 crew members working aboard the Deepwater Horizon that day, caught in the most harrowing circumstances imaginable.  They were skilled working men and women putting in a grueling shift in the hopes of getting back soon to their families and lives ashore.  In an instant, they were faced with their darkest hour, pushed to summon the courage to battle an unstoppable inferno blaze in the middle of the ocean, and when all seemed lost, to save one another.

It’s hard to forget the devastating blowout and nearly unstoppable oil leak that for 87 days, millions, watched, as 50,000 barrels of oil gushed from the sea floor into the Gulf of Mexico.  It would become the largest accidental ocean oil spill in human history.

Deepwater Horizon is a survival story based on true events.  Its premier was held Monday night (Sept. 19) at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown New Orleans.

The film stars Oscar-nominated heavyweight Mark Wahlberg, Golden Globe nominees Kate Hudson and Kurt Russell, along with Two time Oscar-nominee, John Malkovich, and Gina Rodriguez.

Wahlberg takes on the role of real-life Transocean chief electronics technician Mike Williams, a devoted family man who was overseeing the rig’s computers and electrical systems on April 20th.   Hudson plays his wife, Felicia, faced with the fear of not knowing if her husband would return home alive.

Kurt Russell takes on the role of Mr. Jimmy Harrell, who was the offshore installation manager of the Deepwater Horizon, essentially in charge of the entire crew.

John Malkovich plays Louisiana-based BP manager Donald Vidrine.

Gina Rodriguez plays Andrea Fleytas, who finds herself trapped with Mike Williams on the fire-choked rig with no easy escape.

The film was directed by Peter Berg, who said,  “I don’t want my films to be a spectator sport.  I want them to be experienced on a personal level.”

Eleven workers lost their lives on the Deepwater Horizon that day.  They were Jason Anderson, Aaron Dale Burkeen, Donald “Duck” Clark, Stephen Ray Curtis, Roy Wyatt Kemp, Karl Dale Kleppinger Jr., Gordon Lewis Jones, Keith Blair Manuel, Dewey Revette, Shane Roshto, and Adam Weise.

Deepwater Horizon opens nationwide on September 30th.