Based on the novel by Peter Carey, THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG tells the tale of legendary Australian outlaw Ned Kelly as he leads a band of rebel warriors to wreak havoc on their English oppressors. IFC Films have released a new trailer for the Justin Kurzel (ASSASSIN'S CREED) directed film which looks wonderfully gritty, but not without a sense of fun.
THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG stars Russell Crowe (BOY ERASED), Charlie Hunnam (THE GENTLEMEN), Nicholas Hoult (THE BANKER), Essie Davis (THE BABADOOK), Thomasin McKenzie (JOJO RABBIT), and George MacKay (1917) as Ned Kelly himself. The story of Ned Kelly has been brought to life on the big-screen many times before; in fact, 1906s THE STORY OF THE KELLY GANG has been recognised as the world's first feature-length film. While speaking with The Guardian, director Justin Kurzel said that all the other Ned Kelly movies forced him to "think of things in different ways – to really aggressively try to find a new voice. That’s been a very deliberate thing throughout the process: to keep it feeling alive and fresh; to keep it feeling like it is walking along a tightrope."
The official synopsis for THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG:
Set amidst the grueling badlands of 19th-century Australia, legendary outlaw Ned Kelly (George MacKay,1917, Ophelia) grows up under the bloody and uncompromising rule of the English. Food is scarce, survival is filled with daily strife, and every opportunity the colonizers take to make their victims feel powerless is inflicted with searing brutality. In a desperate attempt to prime him for rebellion, Ned Kelly’s mother (Essie Davis, The Babadook), sells him off into the hands of the notorious bushranger Harry Power (Russell Crowe, Cinderella Man, L.A. Confidential), where the young bandit discovers he comes from a line of warriors called the Sons of Sieve. Fueled by his roots and a voracious appetite for revenge, Ned Kelly leads an anarchist army to wreak havoc on their oppressors in one of the most audacious attacks the country has ever seen. Grimy, gritty, and full of action-packed thrills, True History of the Kelly Gang brings a revolutionary twist to an iconic piece of folklore.
THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG will hit select-theaters and On Demand on April 24, 2020.