Filming is set to begin in Australia this month on director Anthony Hayes' survival thriller GOLD, which Hayes will also star in alongside Zac Efron. Written by Hayes and Polly Smyth, GOLD will tell the story of
two strangers traveling through a desert who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty with one man leaving to secure the necessary equipment. The other man remains and must endure harsh desert elements, ravenous wild dogs and mysterious intruders, whilst battling the sinking suspicion that he has been abandoned to his own fate.
Hayes is also producing the film for Rogue Star Pictures, while John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz produce through their company Deeper Water Films. Andrew Mann, Peter Touche, Simon Williams, Paul Wiegard, Will Clarke, Andy Mayson, Nick Forward, and Mike Runagall serve as executive producers.
GOLD already has distribution lined up in Australia: Madman Entertainment will be handling the initial release, then it will be streaming on the Stan service, which is backing the film.
Michael Schwarz says GOLD is
a classic morality tale told in an excitingly modern fashion, and the creative symmetry between Anthony and Zac has everyone involved incredibly excited to bring this film to global audiences."
Hayes adds,
This is an exciting, gripping and timely tale about greed, humanity, who we are, what we've done to the world and where we are heading if we aren't careful. To have Zac Efron as my main man on this film is an absolute gift and to see what he is creating already is like nothing we've seen from him before. I can't wait to deliver this bold, visceral and cinematic film to audiences all around the world."
Best known for comedies and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICALs, Efron has recently been branching out into darker material. He played Ted Bundy in the film EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE, and will be starring in the Blumhouse adaptation of Stephen King's FIRESTARTER. GOLD sounds like another interesting project for him to take on.