The New Zealand Film Commission and the Film Fund announced today that they are investing in a new feature film to be based on the classic fantasy novel by Maurice Gee.
The film, Under The Mountain, is to be the second feature directed by Jonathan King, whose first feature was Black Sheep. It is a fantasy adventure about teenage twins who battle dark forces hidden beneath Auckland’s volcanoes.
‘I want to deliver a scary and exciting adventure for teenage audiences,’ says Jonathan King. ‘The story will contrast its contemporary Auckland city setting with a fantastic subterranean world beneath.’
The producers will be Jonathan King and Matthew Grainger of Index Films Limited and Richard Fletcher of Liberty Films Limited in Wellington. Chris Hampson, Chris Bailey and Trevor Haysom will be executive producers.
The new feature has been written by Matthew Grainger and Jonathan King. It will be shot in Auckland next year, with creature design and special effects by Weta Workshop.
International sales excluding Australia and New Zealand are to be handled by London-based Capitol Films, through their ThinkFilm International label.
The original novel is published in New Zealand by Penguin and has sold more than 70,000 copies since its publication in 1979. In 1982 a television series terrorised and thrilled a generation of kiwis – the filmmakers hope that their new film will do the same to the world.
Jonathan King’s first feature Black Sheep won four international awards, and is currently in release in the United Kingdom where it has grossed more than $US1million in its first two weeks. NZ Film have sold it to 49 overseas territories. Capitol Films and NZ On Air are also investing in Under the Mountain with the NZFC and the Film Fund.
[release from the New Zealand Film Commission]