by FilmInk Staff
Following a raft of successful film projects in the US in recent years, Australian writer/director/producer, Kyle Portbury, is set to direct an historical musical live action adventure fairytale set in New Orleans.
Portbury describes the new Australian-Canadian co-production as a family adventure that is a cross between Home Alone and The Goonies, where we follow a young protagonist through turn of the century New Orleans.
The historical fairytale revolves around a theft and themes of belonging and found family, in a tough, early 20th century environment, with the young protagonist getting into scrapes and entanglements in urban, fin-de-siecle America.
While Portbury and production partner Louise Schultze from Australian Production House can’t give too much away as yet, they can announce the attachment of Chukwudi Iwuji (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Day of the Jackal) to the project, with further big name attachments to come shortly.
The project follows on the heels of Portbury’s recent successful projects. The Hopeful (2024) featured in the US box office top 10 films for several weeks and nominated by the Australian Directors Guild with four other Directors – including George Miller (Furiosa) and Robert Connolly (The Dry 2 Force of Nature) – for Best Direction of a Feature Film.
More recently Portbury worked on the successful animated feature David (2025), which Portbury co-wrote with director Brent Dawes, earning $85mm at the US box office.
For Portbury, the project is one he’s been building toward for some time.
“I’ve always been drawn to stories of belonging, finding where you fit in the world when it’s not clear how it’s built for you. This film has that, a young hero navigating the chaos and beauty of turn-of-the-century New Orleans, getting in over their head, and finding family in the most unlikely places. It’s the kind of adventure I wanted to see as a kid and now want my kids to see.
“Having Chukwudi Iwuji on board is a real statement of intent. He brings a gravity and energy to all of his performances, an actor who inhabits character like a second skin. We’re building something that feels classic, a big, warm, musical adventure, with real grit and heart, Chukwudi is someone I want on set for that adventure. Louise and I can’t wait to share more as the pieces come together.”
AACTA nominee and Producer for Paramount+ documentary Never Get Busted and an upcoming co-pro with Australian Director, Kriv Stenders, Louise Schultze, says co-productions like this are going to be more common.
“As film-making and distribution becomes more global, we’re going to see more co-productions like this. A movie set in America, shot in Canada and Australia, with global talent, like Chukwudi Iwuji,” says Schultze.
“We’ve got a number of projects like that underway. That’s good for Australian and global talent, and good for storytelling in Australia and abroad.”
