Ned Kelly was the subject of THE STORY OF THE KELLY GANG in 1906, which is regarded as the world's first full-length narrative feature film, and now, the notorious bushranger is set to return to the big-screen in TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG, which is set to shatter the mythology of Ned Kelly with "a gothic western for our times." Gothic western, I like that.
Set to be directed by Justin Kurzel (MACBETH), the upcoming film will star George MacKay (CAPTAIN FANTASTIC) as Ned Kelly alongside Russell Crowe (THE NICE GUYS), Nicholas Hoult (THE CURRENT WAR), and Essie Davis (THE BABADOOK). Based upon Peter Carey's novel of the same name, TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG will be a "bold, uncompromising film about one of the world’s greatest outlaws and the colonial badlands from which he rose." Also starring Travis Fimmel (WARCRAFT), Darce Montgomery (Stranger Things), Harry Greenwood (HACKSAW RIDGE), Sean Keenan (STRANGERLAND), Thomasin McKenzie (Lucy Lewis Can't Lose), and Earl Cave (Born to Kill), the film is set to begin production in Australia next year. In a statement, Justin Kurzel said:
Peter Carey’s book The True History of the Kelly Gang always felt like the true spirit of Ned Kelly. Unsentimental, brutal, raw and visceral. His story is one of the great odysseys in history, and I feel excited to be bringing it to the screen with a fresh cinematic eye. This is a really unique and modern cast, and I am so proud to be working with such a talented ensemble of new faces and celebrated actors.
Rocket Science’s Thorsten Schumacher, who will be handling international sales for the film, added, "It’s no surprise that this piece of material attracted such an incredibly talented cadre of artists. It’s a masterful interpretation of the life of a fabled outlaw. This epic western will perform in territories across the globe and we are thrilled to be presenting it." I'm always down for a quality western, and if Justin Kurzel is able to return to form and wipe ASSASSIN'S CREED from our memories, all the better.
The synopsis of "True History of the Kelly Gang" via Amazon:
In True History of the Kelly Gang, the legendary Ned Kelly speaks for himself, scribbling his narrative on errant scraps of paper in semiliterate but magically descriptive prose as he flees from the police. To his pursuers, Kelly is nothing but a monstrous criminal, a thief and a murderer. To his own people, the lowly class of ordinary Australians, the bushranger is a hero, defying the authority of the English to direct their lives. Indentured by his bootlegger mother to a famous horse thief (who was also her lover), Ned saw his first prison cell at 15 and by the age of 26 had become the most wanted man in the wild colony of Victoria, taking over whole towns and defying the law until he was finally captured and hanged. Here is a classic outlaw tale, made alive by the skill of a great novelist.