film

Award-winning director Warwick Thornton confirmed lead upcoming Indigenous feature film First Warrior

Phoebe Blogg Published October 1, 2024 at 1.30pm (AWST)

Kaytetye man Warwick Thornton has been announced as director of First Warrior, an upcoming feature film about Australian Aboriginal resistance fighter Pemulwuy. (Image: Ben King)

Director Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah, The New Boy) has been announced as director of First Warrior, an upcoming feature film about Australian Aboriginal resistance fighter Pemulwuy.

A Bidjigal man of the Sydney tribes, Pemulwuy led a 12-year resistance against British settlers moving into his people's traditional lands after Australia was colonised in the late 1700s.

First Warrior is supported by the Bidjigal, Dharawal and Dharug Elders and is led by an all-Indigenous core creative team.

They include Thornton, writer Jon Bell (The Moogai, Cleverman) and writer-producer Andrew Dillon (Le Champion, Outliers), a direct descendent of both the Dharug and Gomeroi people.

Dillon will produce under his That's-A-Wrap ProducKons banner, a 100 per cent Indigenous First Nations owned and operated production company.

Celebrated Director Warwick Thornton said he is honoured to be apart of the film and it's creative process, saying the film shares a significant historical story.

"I am so honoured to be a part of this amazing film. It's an important story with an awesome script and legendary actors," he said.

*Warwick Thornton, Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson behind the scenes of Samson and Delilah, 2008. (Image: Mark Rogers)*

BAFTA nominated and AACTA Award-winning screenwriter Stuart Beattie (Collateral, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) has also come on board alongside Phillip Noyce (Rabbit-Proof Fence, Salt) and Shana Levine (The Portable Door, Charlie & Boots).

Some of Australia's finest acting exports are also involved, including Sam Worthington (Avatar, Hacksaw Ridge) and Jason Clarke (Oppenheimer, Zero Dark Thirty), with a search underway to cast the roles of Pemulwuy as well as Bennelong, who was kidnapped by Governor Arthur Phillip to start a dialogue with Indigenous Australians.

Dillon said he is eager for audience members to leave the cinema with a newfound appreciation of Australia's shared history.

"It has been a lifelong goal of mine to have our Indigenous warriors celebrated on the silver screen," he said.

"I can't wait for audiences to not only experience Warwick's vision for this story but to leave the cinema with a newfound appreciation of Australia's shared history."

The release date of First Warrior is yet to be confirmed.

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