Is ‘Soul On Fire’ A True Story?

Soul Surfer director Sean McNamara is back with another inspirational epic.

Soul on Fire is about a man who suffers a near-death accident at the age of 9 that leaves him with burns covering most of his body and a slim chance of survival. But with the help of his faith, his family and his community, John O’Leary accomplishes the impossible and makes a full recovery and uses his life story to inspire others as a motivational speaker to live their lives to the fullest and do the extraordinary.

Joel Courtney stars as O’Leary, with John Corbett and Stephanie Szostak starring as his parents Denny and Susan O’Leary. William H. Macy, DeVon Franklin and Masey McLain also star.

This new release, which is streaming now on Netflix, is an inspirational story about faith and life. But is Soul on Fire based on a true story?

Is Soul on Fire a true story?

Yes, Soul on Fire is based on a true story! The movie was adapted by screenwriter Gregory Poirier from John’s bestselling memoir, On Fire, published in 2016. John also served as an executive producer on the series.

According to the movie’s website, John’s accident occurred in 1987 when he was playing with fire and gasoline, creating a “massive explosion” in his home.

John’s parents also opened up about the accident and his miraculous recovery in the 2006 book, Overwhelming Odds.

Soul on Fire is streaming now on Netflix.