Brenton Thwaites, Alicia Vikander and Jacek Koman have joined the cast of Australian thriller Son of a Gun, which begins shooting in Western Australia at the end of February.
The film marks the debut feature of acclaimed short filmmaker Julius Avery and centres on the relationship between a master criminal (Ewan McGregor) and his young protégé (Thwaites). Thwaites previously starred in Blue Lagoon: The Awakening and recently completed production on Maleficent with Angelina Jolie.
Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, a BAFTA rising star nominee, recently appeared opposite Keira Knightley and Jude Law in Anna Karenina and in Danish film A Royal Affair. She will be seen next in The Seventh Son with Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges.
Jacek Koman was nominated for an AACTA Award in 2010 for his performance in TV series Spirited, and has also appeared in films such as Romulus My Father, Children of Men, and The Hunter. He will play the role of manipulative crime boss, Sam, in Son of a Gun.
In a statement announcing the cast, Avery said: “Combining the exceptional calibre of Australian actors with award winning international talent is going to be a privilege."
Avery's short film Jerrycan won several awards in 2008 including the Jury Prize for best short film at the Cannes Film Festival.
Screen Australia chief executive Ruth Harley said: "Julius Avery's critically acclaimed previous work demonstrates an awesome talent. Son of a Gun is an inherently Australian story which is set to deliver stylish big-screen entertainment for both the local and international market."
UK-based film company, Altitude Film Sales, is handling international sales for the film while Hopscotch/Entertainment One has acquired Australian and New Zealand rights.
Hopscotch/eOne Australia managing director Troy Lum said: "Julius Avery is a director that we have had our eye on for a long time. We believe that he is one of the most exciting new directors in the country. It is exciting to be involved in his first feature especially with such a fantastic cast."
UTA Independent Film Group is handling North American rights. Deluxe Australia subsidiaries EFilm and StageOne Sound will handle post-production.
Filming takes place in Perth and Kalgoorlie, followed by Melbourne, from late-February.