Miles Scott
Superheroes usually bring to mind images of muscle-bound men or women with supernatural powers and cool costumes dedicated to protecting mankind from villains seeking to corrupt the world. No matter the obstacle, the classic battle between good and evil always ends with the hero coming out triumphant.
In the real world, heroes are not as easily distinguishable. Such is the case for a five-year-old, cancer-surviving boy from Tulelake, California. Miles Scott is his name and he exemplifies what being a superhero is all about.
Miles was engaged in a battle with leukemia that began when he was 18 months. The life-threatening medical condition forced him into chemotherapy treatments that lasted for years. During his treatment, parents Nick and Natalie Scott reached out to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The non-profit charity organization aim to grant the wishes of children diagnosed with deadly diseases. When it came time for Miles to make a wish, he was ready. His fascination with superheroes made the decision easy. More than anything, he wanted to be "Batkid."
When news of Miles' wish hit social media, it spread like wildfire. Thousands of supporters from around the world wanted to play a role in turning his dream to reality. An overwhelming amount of donations began to pour in and what was supposed to be a small gift to a child in need became a nationwide media extravaganza.
Miles' story captured the hearts of people everywhere. It was an Internet craze gone viral. The attention garnered was more than anyone could have expected. With so many volunteering their time and money, Make-A-Wish had the opportunity to make the event truly life-changing. And that's exactly what they did. The entire city of San Francisco transformed itself into Gotham, home of the caped crusader himself, Batman.
On the big day, Miles was told they were heading to San Francisco to pick up his Batman costume. That would have been enough to make his day. Instead, they had a plan in place that he would never forget. His call to action came from the chief of police. In a pre-recorded broadcast, the services of Batman and his pint-sized sidekick, Batkid, were requested to help save a city in danger.
Authorities and city officials blocked off streets and created staging areas. Flash mobs with signs of support and praise followed Miles along each phase of his mission. A mission that included rescuing a damsel in distress, foiling a bank robbery attempt by the Riddler, and stopping the Penguin from kidnapping Lou, the San Francisco Giants mascot. The day was a huge success on many levels. Miles’ efforts were even recognized by U.S. President Barack Obama, who in a Vine, said "Way to go Miles, way to save Gotham."
The Batkid documentary, Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World, debuted at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2015 and caught the attention of superstar actress Julia Roberts. Now Roberts is set to produce and star in a feature adaptation of Miles' story. Dana Nachman, the director of the doc, will serve as the executive producer.
Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World is a movie for the whole family. The concept of good vs. evil is timeless. Everyone wants to see the good guy win. Miles fought for his life against cancer and against all odds became victorious. That’s more than enough to qualify Miles as a superhero. Holy tearjerker Batman!