Red Billabong.
Luke Sparke is following up his feature debut Red Billabong with sci-fi pic Occupation. The film, about a small town that bands together after a devastating ground invasion, will shoot next month around the Gold Coast and northern NSW.
Dan Ewing, who lead the cast of Red Billabong, will also star in Occupation alongside New Zealand’s Temuera Morrison (The Osiris Child , Moana, Star Wars: Episode II and III).
Other cast include Stephany Jacobsen (Battlestar Galactica), Rhiannon Fish (The 100), Charles Terrier (Neighbours), Bruce Spence (Mad Max 2), Felix Williamson (The Great Gatsby, Underbelly), Charles Mesure (Desperate Housewives), Zachary Garred (General Hospital), Izzy Stevens (Puberty Blues), Trystan Go (The Family Law) and AFI award winner Jacqueline McKenzie (The 4400).
Occupation will be produced by SparkeFilms, with Red Billabong producer Carly Imrie returning.
“I’m very excited and proud to bring such a varied and talented ensemble cast to this Australian film,” Imrie said. “Occupation represents our second foray into the action genre after our monster film Red Billabong last year, and this is gearing up to be one hell of a ride.”
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment is handling international sales for the film and will present first-look footage in Cannes. Pinnacle Films will distribute the film theatrically in ANZ.
The six-week shoot will commence on May 2.