Local feature Tracks, starring Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver, has begun filming in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The film is based on the inspirational true story of Robyn Davidson’s solo trek from Alice Springs through 2700 kilometres of Australian desert to the Indian Ocean, accompanied only by her loyal dog and four unpredictable camels.
The film is being directed by John Curran (The Painted Veil, We Don’t Live Here Anymore, Praise) and produced by Oscar-winners Emile Sherman and Iain Canning (The King’s Speech, Shame, Oranges and Sunshine). Julie Ryan (Red Dog, Ten Canoes) is co-producer.
Davidson said it was a strange experience to see her book (which has been translated into twenty languages) morphed into another form.
"I could not be more pleased with the people involved in conceiving this new avatar," she said in a statement. "Emile and Iain, unique among producers I think; John, who sails as close to the book as he can without compromising his own ship and, of course, Mia, whose talent gave me goose bumps when I watched In Treatment, and who is as lovely as she is gifted."
Wasikowska (Jane Eyre, The Kids Are Alright, Alice in Wonderland) plays Davidson while Driver (HBO’s Emmy-nominated Girls, Frances Ha, Lincoln) stars as Rick Smolan.
Sherman and Canning said: "This is one of the great Australian stories that begs to be adapted for the big screen. Robyn undertakes such an epic journey, doing what many of us wish we had the courage to do – to cast off the shackles of our lives, going as far away as possible from the noise of civilisation, and to find out how we would manage truly alone. We couldn’t be happier to have such strong casting in Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver, playing the roles of two such intriguing, resolute and adventurous characters."