Lionsgate’s Wonder chronicles an inspiring tale about a young boy with a rare facial deformity, and due to its content, one can’t help but wonder (pun intended) if the movie is based on a true story or completely fictional. The 2017 coming-of-age family drama film, directed by Stephen Chbosky and written by Chbosky, Steven Conrad, and Jack Thorne, stars Jacob Tremblay as the aforementioned child, Auggie. Auggie was born with Treacher Collins syndrome and struggles to fit in, as a result.

Tremblay’s character’s mother, played by Julia Roberts, homeschooled him for most of his life, and Auggie would often wear an astronaut helmet when going out to hide his face. However, at the beginning of Wonder, Auggie’s family decides to enroll him in a private school, where he faces scrutiny from his classmates. Over the course of the movie, Auggie learns that it’s better to stand out and be different than to blend in with the crowd, and the rousing story in Wonder feels as if it could have happened in real life.

Wonder Technically Isn’t Based On A True Story

The 2017 Film Is Inspired By Multiple True Stories

Even though Wonder certainly could have been based on real people and true events, the characters in the 2017 coming-of-age family drama are purely fictional, and the plot is (almost) entirely made up. There is a caveat, though, as a real family’s story doesn’t inspire the narrative, but it is based on several true stories that Wonder‘s creator had heard over the years. So, although the Julia Roberts movie is not purely based on one singular family, it is inspired by many affected by Treacher Collins syndrome.

Treacher Collins syndrome, also known as mandibulofacial dysostosis, is a genetic condition that affects one’s facial structure (including the skull and facial bones) and how it develops before they are even born. It is very rare as it occurs in one in 50,000 newborn babies worldwide each year, according to Seattle Children’s Hospital. Treacher Collins syndrome happens due to a mutation in a gene, and treatment often includes facial reconstructive surgery to avoid hearing loss, breathing difficulties, speech impediments, loss of smell, and an inability to eat or drink. As seen in Wonder, Auggie had to undergo 27 surgeries by the time he was 10 years old.

Wonder Is Based On The 2012 Book By RJ Palacio

The 2017 film Wonder was based on R. J. Palacio’s 2012 novel of the same name, which, as mentioned above, was inspired by multiple stories. The contemporary children’s novel was published on February 14, 2012, and immediately received positive reviews. Many critics praised Wonder (the book) for its complex characters and touching and inspiring story that pulls at the heartstrings. However, reviews among those directly and indirectly affected by Treacher Collins syndrome were more mixed, as some believed Wonder was a great representation of the disabled community, while others found flaws in its accuracy and how the narrative utilized Auggie.

Wonder’s Book Was Inspired By An Incident With Palacio’s Son & The 1995 Song “Wonder”

While numerous true stories influenced R. J. Palacio to write Wonder, one personal experience served as the main inspiration for the 2012 novel. According to Palacio’s interview with NPR, the author was at an ice cream shop with her children a few years before she published Wonder and encountered a young girl with a severe facial deformity. Palacio’s toddler son started crying when he saw her, so, she quickly fled the ice cream shop. The author said:

“I was really angry at myself afterwards for the way I had responded. What I should have done is simply turned to the little girl and started up a conversation and shown my kids that there was nothing to be afraid of. But instead, what I ended up doing was leaving the scene so quickly that I missed that opportunity to turn the situation into a great teaching moment for my kids. And that got me thinking a lot about what it must be like to … have to face a world every day that doesn’t know how to face you back.”

Shortly following the impactful experience, Palacio began writing her hit novel, which would later be turned into a successful movie that starred Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson and grossed $306 million at the worldwide box office. Palacio also turned to Natalie Merchant’s 1995 song, “Wonder,” for inspiration, as its lyrics helped the author formulate the story. The film adaptation of Wonder even features Merchant’s track during its end credits.

Sources: Seattle Children’s Hospital, NPR