Oscar Buzz Begins for ‘Sully’

It was considered a miracle — and it riveted the nation. On Jan. 15, 2009, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger landed his U.S. Airways plane in the icy waters of the Hudson River after birdstrike knocked out both engines.

His split decision and cool, strong leadership in the face of extreme difficulty meant that the lives of all 155 people on board were saved. Several passengers suffered injuries in the incident, but only one required short-term hospitalization.

The story became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson” and Capt. Sullenberger was hailed as a hero.

Now, the first trailer for “Sully,” the movie about the incident, has been released — and after a summer of lackluster and disappointing films, this one is stirring some serious buzz.

Opening Sept. 9, “Sully” is already being touted as Oscar-worthy.

It’s got all the requisite criteria — a gripping story, heroic drama, exciting special effects, Tom Hanks in the title role, and Clint Eastwood directing.

It’s Eastwood’s first feature film since his smash hit, “American Sniper.” That movie garnered six Oscar nominations and was the biggest box office hit of Eastwood’s directorial career (pulling in $547.4 million worldwide).

Last year, Capt. Sullenberger gave his stamp of approval, calling the filmmaking group a “dream team.”

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The veteran pilot’s newfound fame was hard for him. And in the movie, scenes show that his decisions were questioned.

“Simulations show that you could make it back to the airport,” Charles Porter (Mike O’Malley) tells him. Hanks — as Sully — says he’s “overwhelmed by all this attention” and begins to question himself. “What if I did get this wrong?” he asks. “What if I endangered the lives of all those passengers?”

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After Capt. Sullenberger’s heroic landing, the GOP tried to recruit the registered Republican to run for office. Reports at the time indicated that Republicans had hoped the pilot would challenge second-term Democratic Congressman Jerry McNerney, who represented the district that includes Sullenberger’s hometown of Danville, Calif. But Sully was happy to keep flying planes.

The 65-year-old has gone on to write books and to lobby on behalf of pilot and airline causes.

Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Holt McCallany, and Jerry Ferrara co-star in “Sully,” which is based on the autobiography “Highest Duty,” written by Sullenberger with Jeffrey Zaslow.