Credits L to R: Courtesy; Robert John Kley, Manfred Baumann, Nathan Richter
Pictured: Jeremy Piven, Nick Wechsler, Tricia Helfer, Luke Sparke
It’s taken a few years to brew, but director Luke Sparke’s new sci-fi thriller Primitive War is finally moving forward. The adaptation of Ethan Pettus’s debut 2017 novel is set to commence principal photography on Australia’s Gold Coast, employing over 200 local crew members.
Heading up the Queensland production are Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Old School), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Lucifer), and Nick Wechsler (The Boys, Revenge). Rounding out the cast are SAG Award Nominee Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, Glorious), and actors Anthony Ingruber (Age of Adaline, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Aaron Glenane (Interceptor, Danger Close), Carlos Sanson Jr (Bump, Legacies), Ana Thu Nguyen (upcoming Mortal Kombat 2), Adolphus Waylee (Nautilus), Richard Brancatisano (The Messenger, After the Verdict), Marcus Johnson (Talk to Me, Bring Him to Me) and Jake Ryan (Savage, Underbelly).
Sparke will direct from his own script a story set in 1968, blending action with survival-horror and war themes for a thriller he promises “ain’t no walk in the park”.
Primitive War is set at the height of the Vietnam War and centers on an elite recon unit known as Vulture Squad, which is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone. Dinosaurs have been let loose in the jungles.
Sparke is producing under his Sparke Films banner, alongside producers Carmel Imrie, Carly Sparke, exec producers Geoff Imrie, and co-producer Alex Becconsall. Wade Muller (Occupation: Rainfall) will serve as director of photography.
“I was captivated by the imagery surrounding Ethan’s book and the story it told. I’ve worked hard on capturing that essence but also the grittiness, horror aspects and military edge. My vision is to feel like the characters have walked out of the film Platoon and into the jaws of the greatest predators the planet has ever known,” said Sparke during pre-production. Pettus enthused: “I’m thrilled to see Luke’s interpretation of my work. I know his team is giving this project everything they’ve got.”
Luke Sparke is best known for directing sci-fi thrillers Occupation and its sequel, Occupation: Rainfall, as well as his latest crime thriller, Bring Him To Me. He is represented by Ben Levine and Vivek Kolli at Link Entertainment and Mark Morrissey of Morrissey Management.
Piven is repped by Laura Pallas at Artist Collective Entertainment and Kwanten is repped by Jennifer Naughton at RGM. Helfer is repped by Gordon Gilbertson of Gilbertson Entertainment and Nate Steadman of Gersh. Wechsler is repped by Gordon Gilbertson of Gilbertson Entertainment and Stephen LaManna from Innovative Artists.
PRIMITIVE WAR: Luke Sparke’s Sci-Fi Novel Adaptation Casts Up As Production Readies Gold Coast Shoot
March 28, 2024
It’s taken a few years to brew, but director Luke Sparke’s new sci-fi thriller Primitive War is finally moving forward. The adaptation of Ethan Pettus’s debut 2017 novel is set to commence principal photography on Australia’s Gold Coast, employing over 200 local crew members.
Heading up the Queensland production are Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Old School), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Lucifer), and Nick Wechsler (The Boys, Revenge). Rounding out the cast are SAG Award Nominee Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, Glorious), and actors Anthony Ingruber (Age of Adaline, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Aaron Glenane (Interceptor, Danger Close), Carlos Sanson Jr (Bump, Legacies), Ana Thu Nguyen (upcoming Mortal Kombat 2), Adolphus Waylee (Nautilus), Richard Brancatisano (The Messenger, After the Verdict), Marcus Johnson (Talk to Me, Bring Him to Me) and Jake Ryan (Savage, Underbelly).
Sparke will direct from his own script a story set in 1968, blending action with survival-horror and war themes for a thriller he promises “ain’t no walk in the park”.
Primitive War is set at the height of the Vietnam War and centers on an elite recon unit known as Vulture Squad, which is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone. Dinosaurs have been let loose in the jungles.
Sparke is producing under his Sparke Films banner, alongside producers Carmel Imrie, Carly Sparke, exec producers Geoff Imrie, and co-producer Alex Becconsall. Wade Muller (Occupation: Rainfall) will serve as director of photography.
“I was captivated by the imagery surrounding Ethan’s book and the story it told. I’ve worked hard on capturing that essence but also the grittiness, horror aspects and military edge. My vision is to feel like the characters have walked out of the film Platoon and into the jaws of the greatest predators the planet has ever known,” said Sparke during pre-production. Pettus enthused: “I’m thrilled to see Luke’s interpretation of my work. I know his team is giving this project everything they’ve got.”
Luke Sparke is best known for directing sci-fi thrillers Occupation and its sequel, Occupation: Rainfall, as well as his latest crime thriller, Bring Him To Me. He is represented by Ben Levine and Vivek Kolli at Link Entertainment and Mark Morrissey of Morrissey Management.
Piven is repped by Laura Pallas at Artist Collective Entertainment and Kwanten is repped by Jennifer Naughton at RGM. Helfer is repped by Gordon Gilbertson of Gilbertson Entertainment and Nate Steadman of Gersh. Wechsler is repped by Gordon Gilbertson of Gilbertson Entertainment and Stephen LaManna from Innovative Artists.
Lead photo: Justin Trevor Inkwell
Lee B. Golden III
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!
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