Yes, John Coffey in 'The Green Mile' is based on a true story. The character represents a man with extraordinary abilities and a gentle soul. The real - life inspiration might have been some individuals with unique qualities who were wrongly judged in a harsh prison system.
The character of John Coffey in 'The Green Mile' is based on a true story. In the real - world equivalent of this story, there was likely a person who, like John Coffey, was a misfit in the prison environment. He was probably someone who had a positive impact on those around him, with his gentle nature and perhaps some unexplainable powers. This story was brought to the screen to make people think about justice, mercy, and the complexity of human nature. We see through John Coffey's story how the legal system can sometimes be blind to the truth and how people's first impressions can be wrong.