SYDNEY — The ensemble cast of eight young Australian actors to star in the new AUS$20 million ($17.4 million) teen war movie “Tomorrow, When The World Began” was announced Thursday, ahead of production on the film, which gets under way in New South Wales this month.
Chris Pang, Deniz Akeniz, Andy Ryan and Lincoln Lewis join the previously announced female cast, featuring Caitlin Stasey as Ellie, Phoebe Tonkin and Ashleigh Cummings.
Lewis and Stasey have had roles in Australian soaps “Home and Away” and “Neighbours,” while Akeniz has appeared in the local version of Disney Channel’s “As The Bell Rings” and Pang has been seen in the recent Australian feature, “Home Song Stories.”
“Tomorrow” marks the directorial debut for writer Stuart Beattie, who has previously penned the screenplays for “Collateral,” “Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” and “Australia.”
Based on the first of seven books in the hugely popular “Tomorrow” series of teen novels by acclaimed Australian author John Marsden, the film follows a group of teenagers who are waging a guerilla war on enemy soldiers in their hometown after Australia is invaded by a foreign power and their families are taken. The story is told from Ellie’s point of view.
The seven books in the series have sold over 2 million copies in Australia and have been translated into 13 languages.
The film is being produced by financier Omnilab Media’s production division, Ambience Entertainment, with Andrew Mason producing. Christopher Mapp, Matthew Street and David Whealy are executive producers.
Paramount Pictures will handle distribution and marketing of the film in Australia and New Zealand. Screen Australia is providing production investment, with assistance from the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.
The film will be produced entirely in Australia.
