STUDIOCANAL’s Australian production arm, Cultivator Films Australia, today announced filming is underway on its first feature film, Kangaroo, produced in partnership with Bunya Productions and Brindle Films. An uplifting family comedy set in the Australian Outback and bouncing with adorable joeys, Kangaroo, is inspired by the story of Chris Barns aka ‘Brolga’, founder of the Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs.

Kangaroo, marks the return to Australia for director Kate Woods (The Umbrella Academy, The Good Lord Bird,  Looking for Alibrandi) and is written by Harry Cripps (The Dry, Penguin Bloom) with additional writing from Melina Marchetta (Looking for Alibrandi) and additional material from Danielle MacLean and Peta-Lee Cole-Manolis. Producers are David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin and Angela Littlejohn for Bunya Productions (Sweet Country, Limbo, Mystery Road), and Rachel Clements and Trisha Morton-Thomas for Brindle Films (MaveriX, Finke: There and Back, 8MMM Aboriginal Radio) with Louise Smith and Marian McGowan serving as executive producers alongside STUDIOCANAL’s Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern, Elizabeth TrotmanandMarcus Gillezeau. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen Territory, with support from Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund.

Kangaroo is a heart-warming family comedy about an ex-TV personality Chris Masterman, who becomes stranded in an Outback town after a car accident on his way to Broome. There, he teams up with 11-year-old Indigenous girl Charlie. The pair form an unlikely friendship and work together to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned joeys in the remote but stunning Outback community. An endeavour that proves to be life-changing for them both.

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Ryan Corr (House of the Dragon, Catching Dust, Holding the Man) stars as ex TV weather presenter Chris Masterman, alongside newcomer Lily Whiteley who stars as Charlie. They lead an outstanding ensemble of actors including Deborah Mailman (Total Control, The New Boy, The Sapphires), Wayne Blair (The New Boy, Mystery Road), Trisha Morton-Thomas (High Country, Occupation: Native, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Ten Pound Poms), Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok), Brooke Satchwell (Poker Face, The Twelve), Ernie Dingo (Bran Nue Dae, The Great Outdoors), Genevieve Lemon (Population 11 , The Power of the Dog), Clarence Ryan (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Moogai),Rarriwuy Hick (True Colours, Wentworth), Roy Billing (Jack Irish, Underbelly), Rick Donald (Population 11, Roast Night), Emily Taheny (Bay of Fires, Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell), Bondi Lifeguard Ryan Clark (Bondi Rescue) and celebrated Australian TV presenter Grant Denyer.

Rounding out the cast is the adorable mob of kangaroo joeys, currently in the care of the Alice Springs Kangaroo Sanctuary, who will make their feature film debut in Kangaroo!

DOP is Kieran Fowler NZCS ACS, Production Design by Sam Hobbs, Costume Designer is Edie Kurzer, Editor is Chris Plummer and Casting by Anousha Zarkesh. Cultural Liaison is Warren H Williams with Cultural Advisors Benedict Stevens, Marie Ellis and Williams.

Set and filmed on location in the stunning Australian Red Centre town of Alice Springs, on Arrernte Country, where the real Kangaroo Sanctuary is based, the film will also shoot at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on the traditional land and waters of the Bidjigal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal Peoples.

The production of Kangaroo operates under the regulations of the Animal Protection Act (2018), with best practice protocols in place for all animals on set.