Zac Efron Gold

ZAC EFRON TO STAR IN NEW STAN ORIGINAL FILM GOLD.
PRODUCTION KICKS OFF IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Co-written by Anthony Hayes and Polly Smyth, the Stan Original film will be directed by and also star Hayes and Susie Porter

Stan, the unrivalled home of Australian original productions, today announced the Stan Original Film Gold will start filming in South Australia this month and will premiere on Stan in 2021.

The Stan Original film Gold will star Zac Efron (The Greatest Showman, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile) - making it his first project since arriving in Australia earlier this year.

AACTA Award-winning actor and filmmaker Anthony Hayes (Animal Kingdom, The Light Between Oceans, War Machine) will direct and co-star with award-winning actress Susie Porter (Ladies in Black, The Second) based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth.

The announcement comes after Stan recently revealed it is ramping up its slate of local and internationally produced Stan Original television series and films. The announcement of its latest original productions and development slate - which include Eden, Bump, Dom and Adrian: 2020, After The Night, A Sunburnt Christmas and now Gold - reflects its biggest commitment to locally produced content yet. Gold will also add to Stan's lineup of AACTA nominated films including True History of the Kelly Gang, I Am Woman and Relic.

The film will be released in cinemas through Madman Entertainment with Altitude Films handling worldwide sales of the film.

Set against the backdrop of a vast, unique and unforgiving landscape, Gold is a taut thriller about greed and the lengths people will go to secure themselves a fortune.

When two drifters travelling through the outback stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found, the dream of immense wealth and greed takes hold. 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 the harsh desert climate, preying wolves and intruders, whilst battling the creeping doubt that he has been abandoned to his own fate.

John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz will produce through their Deeper Water Films banner (Killerman, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan), alongside Hayes for Rogue Star Pictures.

Executive producers are Andrew Mann, Peter Touche, Simon Williams, Paul Wiegard, Will Clarke, Andy Mayson, Nick Forward and Mike Runagall, Consultant Producer is Shana Levine.

Nick Forward, Chief Content Officer at Stan, said: "Stan is delighted to welcome Zac Efron and Anthony Hayes as its leading stars in its upcoming original film Gold. Working with John, Michael, and the whole creative team, Gold will capture viewers and take them on a thrilling journey; all set against the spectacular backdrop of the South Australian outback."

Anthony Hayes, Star, Co-Writer and Director, said: "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."

Paul Wiegard, Madman Films said: "Gold is a study of what motivates human greed. This is a time-honoured filmic theme, and Gold's dramatic premise, stark and primal setting, well developed tension, crucible, and twist ending give it strong theatrical potential."

Michael Schwarz, Deeper Water Films: "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."

Kate Croser, South Australian Film Corporation CEO, said: "Gold is a project superbly suited to filming in South Australia and we welcome the economic boost that this production will bring to regional and remote parts of the State. As productions come together quickly in this post-Covid landscape, led by Gold's South Australian Co-Producer Julie Byrne the local industry has again demonstrated their agility and capacity to deliver international-calibre projects."

Gold was developed and financed with the assistance of the South Australian Film Corporation.

Zac Efron is represented by CAA, Alchemy Entertainment and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson. Worldwide sales: Altitude Film Sales

The Stan Original Film Gold will premiere on Stan and in cinemas in 2021.