A visual interpretation of Michael and Bridget Kennedy.

by Matthew Eeles

Notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly has been a recurring figure in Australian cinema, with numerous films depicting his life and exploits. The fascination with Kelly’s story dates back to the early days of Australian filmmaking, evident in the silent film The Story of the Kelly Gang in 1906, considered one of the world’s first feature-length films.

Since then, various interpretations of Kelly’s life have graced the screen, including iconic portrayals by actors like Mick Jagger and Heath Ledger, and more recently by British actor George MacKay in True History of the Kelly Gang, Justin Kurzel’s outlandish 2019 film inspired by Peter Carey’s Booker-winning novel.

While Kelly maintains a lead presence in all of these films, a new film called Kennedy will shine a light on one of many police officers killed by Kelly and his gang, Sergeant Michael Kennedy, and his wife, Bridget Kennedy.

Kennedy director, producer, co-writer, Darren Hawkins.

Directed by Darren Hawkins and co-written by Darren and Lauren Hamilton Neill, who will also play Bridget Kennedy in the film, Kennedy is set in 1870s Australia and follows the love and struggles of Michael and Bridget as they navigate the challenges of colonial life.

The film will serve as a reminder that the policemen slain by the Kelly Gang at Stringybark Creek in 1878 were not merely faceless adversaries but cherished members of their communities – fathers, husbands, and pillars of society – whose lives were tragically cut short.

Darren, who has had a long fascination with local history and bushrangers, tells Cinema Australia that his interest in Ned Kelly lore stems from his childhood when he first watched the 1980 miniseries The Last Outlaw, starring John Jarratt.

“The Last Outlaw’s narrative, the acting, directing, cinematography, the costumes, and sets were all incredible,” says Darren.

“As a young person watching the miniseries, I was transported back to that time and that story as I did some years before watching a certain space epic set in a galaxy far, far away.”

As Darren grew, so did his hunger to learn more about the history surrounding Ned Kelly, and in particular, the lives of Michael and Bridget Kennedy. In Darren’s exploration of the Kelly story, before considering it for a film, he’d noticed the frequent, and justified, focus on the gang. As Darren delved deeper into his research, he discovered a neglected aspect of the Kelly lore.

The real Michael Kennedy.

The narrative surrounding Michael and Bridget, which has often been overshadowed by Ned’s prominence, has been unfairly portrayed and sometimes demonised. This realisation grew stronger as Darren familiarised himself not only with the Kennedy descendants but also with those descended from Constable Thomas Lonigan and Constable Thomas McIntyre. It became clear to Darren that their story deserves to be told from a fresh perspective.

“Michael and Bridget’s story is sweeping, epic, and grand in scale. It’s also tainted with tragedy. Ultimately, through Bridget, there is triumph. She was an incredible, fierce, determined woman who became such a tower of strength for her family. How could I not want to tell this story.”

Years of dedicated research have led Darren through various avenues, from scouring out-of-print books to accessing journals, periodicals, and academic writings about the era and its people. But what Darren found most invaluable is the insights shared by the descendants of those who lived this story.

“Their oral histories have proven to be as, if not more, illuminating than written sources. Aligning these oral accounts with early writings has helped me discern between factual accounts and romanticised narratives, especially when discussing the Kennedy family’s descendants,” Darren tells Cinema Australia.

Leo Kennedy.

Leo Kennedy, the great-grandson of Michael and Bridget, will serve as a script consultant on the film. Leo carries forward the illustrious Kennedy legacy by pursuing a career in law, much like his great grandfather. Presently, Leo remains actively engaged with the Blue Ribbon Foundation along Victoria’s Police Force.

Darren had searched for Leo’s contact details after seeing him on the Foxtel special Lawless: The Real Bushrangers, presented by Australian journalist Mike Monro. Following an interview with a Melbourne radio station, Darren was put in touch with Leo via the station’s sources.

“Leo’s support has been invaluable to the project and to myself. The story of Michael and Bridget has been his lifelong passion, which is obvious when speaking to him. He’s well-researched across so many aspects. Whenever I find myself at a dead end with my research while writing the Kennedy script, I would reach out to Leo,” says Darren.

“I wouldn’t be wanting to move ahead on Kennedy without Leo being a part of it in some way. And I certainly wouldn’t be doing it without his support and blessing, which he gave us very early on in the project.”

The policemen at Stringybark Creek in 1878.

Just like Justin Kurzel’s adaptation and others before it, filmmakers have frequently employed creative license in depicting the Kelly legend, often portraying Kelly either in an exaggeratedly negative or positive manner. But Darren insists that his film will be as authentic to Michael and Bridget’s story as he can possibly get, especially when it comes to the aesthetic of the film.

“I’m not just a filmmaker, but I’m also a fan of cinema. Nothing is more important to me than a story that can take me out of my chair and elevate me into a new world or a different time. I don’t want my audience to be lifted out of this experience because they’re seeing something that doesn’t belong like an item of clothing, a weapon, a horse saddle, or even an actor’s accent. I will do my best to be as authentic as possible, and all of these touches will allow the audience to fully immerse themselves in the world that I will create alongside my team who are just as dedicated as I am to getting it right,” Darren enthuses.

When Cinema Australia asked Darren when Kennedy will go into production, he told us, “As soon as the production budget is secured.”

Darren tells Cinema Australia that he has seen so many films happily saunter into production with only a scant amount of the budget they need, only to find that either days before or partway through filming, everything has to be paused or worse, abandoned because the funds have either dried up or they haven’t landed.

“Simply put, I don’t want to endanger this production with that kind of pathway. I know it works for some, and plenty of films have been made with a “just-in-time purchase and supply” methodology. The funds land, and the film gets made. But it’s not a pathway I want this production to have to take or stress over,” says Darren.

Kennedy is directed by Darren Hawkins and written by Hawkins and Lauren Hamilton Neill. Kieren Devisser will serve as executive producer, while Casimir Dickson ACS is on board as director of photography. Leo Kennedy will work on the film as a script advisor.

You can keep up to date with the film via kennedythefilm.com.

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