‘Memento Films International has boarded “True History of the Kelly Gang” by Peter Carey, a hotly anticipated project to be directed by Justin Kurzel (“Macbeth”), with Russell Crowe, George MacKay, Nicholas Hoult and Essie Davis to star.
The production banner launched by Memento founder Emilie Georges – are set to co-finance the picture together with Screen Australia and Film4, and in association with Film Victoria. Memento will handle international sales, beginning at Cannes.
Liz Watts at Porchlight Films and Hal Vogel at Daybreak Pictures are producing the film with Kurzel. Paul Ranford is on board to co-produce. Kurzel will helm the film from a script by Shaun Grant, which has been reworked.
“True History of the Kelly Gang” is a coming-of-age tale charting the rise and fall of the Australian rebel who swore to wreak vengeance and havoc on the British Empire. MacKay will star as the notorious bush ranger Ned Kelly and will depict the colonial badlands of Australia. Nurtured by another notorious bush ranger, Harry Power (Crowe), and fueled by the arrest of his mother, Kelly recruits a wild bunch of warriors to plot a rebellion.
“True History of the Kelly Gang” will also star Thomasin McKenzie (“The Hobbit”), Sean Keenan (“Strangerland”), Harry Greenwood (“Hacksaw Ridge”) and Earl Cave (“Born to Kill”).
Filming will take place on location in Victoria, Australia, in July. Transmission Films will distribute the film in Australia and New Zealand.
Oscar-winner Crowe (“Gladiator”) is repped by WME; MacKay (“Captain Fantastic”) by Gordon and French and UTA; Hoult (“X-Men”) by 42 and UTA; and Davis (“Game of Thrones”) by United Agents and WME. Justin Kurzel is repped by CAA.’
Via Variety
