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Overview by: Jack Foley
THE highly-anticipated Ned Kelly, starring Heath Ledger as the
eponymous outlaw, is released by United International Pictures,
Universal Pictures and Working Title Films on September 26.
Set in the late 19th Century, the film is based on the true story
of bushranger Ned Kelly whose bitter feud with the State of Victoria
and her corrupt police force erupted into a conflict that sent
shockwaves throughout the British Empire.
Outlawed by a society that refused to accept him, Kelly formed
a close group of outlaws known as the Kelly Gang and staged a
series of daring bank robberies. Hailed as the leader of a movement,
Kelly’s shoot out with the police triggered a massive manhunt
that turned him into a folk hero and legend.
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As gang leader Ned Kelly, Ledger (A Knight's Tale, Monster's
Ball, The Patriot) heads an impressive young cast, including
Orlando Bloom (Lord Of The
Rings, Black Hawk
Down, Pirates of the
Caribbean, The Calcium Kid) who plays gang member Joe Byrne,
up and coming Australian actor, Joel Edgerton (Star
Wars: Episode 2, soon to be released Night We called It Day)
who plays Aaron Sherritt, and newcomers Laurence Kinlan (Angela’s
Ashes, Veronica Guerin,
Intermission), from Dublin and Philip Barantini (HBO’s Band
of Brothers, The Great Ceili War), who complete the gang in
the roles of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart.
Also starring are Naomi Watts (Mulholland
Drive, The Ring), Academy
Award winner Geoffrey Rush (Shine, Elizabeth, Quills, Shakespeare
In Love) and Academy Award nominee Rachel Griffiths (Hilary and
Jackie, Blow).
Shot on location in stunning rural Victoria, Australia, Ned Kelly
is directed by Gregor Jordan (Two Hands, Buffalo
Soldiers) and is the first feature film to be made through
Working Title’s Australian subsidiary WTA, headed by Tim
White.
An Endymion Films production in association with WTA, Ned Kelly
is produced by Nelson Woss and Lynda House. The executive producers
are Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Tim White. Based on the book,
Our Sunshine, by Robert Drewe, the screenplay is adapted
by John Michael McDonagh.
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