We gotta admit, we sort of forgot this one was happening, but we have to say, we’re glad it is. It’s coming on three years since David Michod made his mark with “Animal Kingdom,” and now he’s back with a thriller that goes to the great outdoors.
Cameras are rolling on “The Rover,” and the the first snap of stars Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson promises a compelling showdown between the two actors. The “existential western” is a near-future set tale, set against the backdrop of financial collapse, that follows a man who goes on a journey across the Australian outback to find his stolen car, which contains something invaluable to him. Populated by “petty criminals and miscreants and hustlers,” the film paints a world where mining is the last gold rush, where fortunes can be made, where it’s every man for himself, and Michod is already talking big about his movie.
“You put cars in the desert in Australia and people are going to think of ‘Mad Max,’ ” the director tells EW. “And with all due respect to that film — and I stress that — I think ‘The Rover’ is going to be way more chillingly authentic and menacing.”
Co-starring the omnipresent Scoot McNairy, no word yet on a release date, but we’d wager 2014. Either way, we’ll be looking forward to it. Update: A24 has acquired “The Rover,” for theatrical release in the U.S.