By Travis Johnson
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that a film about the Battle of Long Tan will lens in Queensland this April. The film, currently under the working title Danger Close, will star Australian actor Travis Fimmel (Vikings, Warcraft) and is being produced by Martin Walsh, a former soldier who also produced the 2006 documentary The Battle of Long Tan. Kriv Stenders (Red Dog, Wake in Fright) will direct. Locations include areas around Nerang and Kingaroy.
The film has been in development for years, and at one point was set to be written and directed by Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Breaker Morant), with Sam Worthington said to be circling the lead role back in 2011. The current script is by Australian screenwriter and director Stuart Beattie (Pirates of Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Collateral).
“As Queenslanders pause to reflect on the sacrifices of our soldiers over the past century, a film crew will be capturing their very personal stories of courage, honour, mateship and loss,” Palaszczuk said. “I was moved to hear that Martin, himself a former Australian Special Forces commando, is planning a major Anzac Day event during the shoot, bringing Long Tan veterans, cast, crew and locals together for a special memorial service.”
The film is expected to employ approximately 120 full-time Queensland crew members, offer 30 principal cast and bit-part roles, and build Queensland’s reputation as a filmmaking location,” the Premier said.
“We are seeing a growing number of screen productions being filmed in Queensland, and our state is forging many exciting partnerships with leading studios. While in the United States on a trade and investment mission this week I will be meeting with studio heads at Twentieth Century Fox Film, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney to discuss new projects and partnerships.
“Attracting major productions like Danger Close to Queensland supports local jobs and showcases Queensland to the world, and that is the impetus behind Screen Queensland’s initial $30 million four-year funding injection in our screen industry.”
