Sam Reid and Sarah Snook have been cast in the lead roles for prospective Australian apocalyptic-noir The Second Coming.
The anouncement comes as the film project has just passed the halfway mark of a 42-day crowdfunding campaign, which has so far raised just over 50 per cent of its $75,000 minimum. The producers are attempting to raise $200,000 total.
It looms as another test for the ability of crowdfunding to both promote bigger screen projects while growing a fan base. South Australian-filmed horror feature The Babadook just scraped over the line with its $30,000 crowdfunding campaign last month.
The Second Coming, based on Andrew Masterson's novel about a man who believes he is Jesus and is then forced to clear his name after becoming a murder suspect, is planned to commence shooting next year.
Reid recently finished filming The Railway Man, which stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, and will seen next in Serena opposite Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Reid also featured in the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Hatfields & McCoys and is currently playing the lead role in Belle, which stars Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Matthew Goode and Emily Watson.
Snook was most recently seen in local romantic-comedy Not Suitable for Children and later this year will appear in the lead role in thriller Jessabelle. She has also appeared in local TV series Spirited and ABC telemovie Sisters of War.
The Second Coming is being produced by Angie Fielder, who recently produced Wish You Were Here, and Polly Staniford, and is written and directed by David Barker.
Contact this reporter at bswift@www.if.com.au or on Twitter at @bcswift.