'War Machine' Firing up in Australia With 'Reacher' Star Alan Ritchson

By Patrick Frater

Asia Bureau Chief

Production is under way in Australia’s Victoria state on War Machine, a new sci-fi action thriller film from Lionsgate and Netflix.

Produced, directed, and co-written by Patrick Hughes (“The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “The Man From Toronto”), “War Machine” follows the final 24-hours of the world’s toughest selection program, as a team of Army Rangers encounter a threat beyond their imagination.

“Reacher” star Alan Ritchson (“Ordinary Angels,” “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”) heads a cast that also includes Dennis Quaid (“Reagan,” “Far From Heaven”), Stephan James (“The Piano Lesson”), Jai Courtney (“The Suicide Squad”) and Esai Morales (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”) as well as Australian actors Blake Richardson (“Mystery Road: Origin”), Keiynan Lonsdale (“The Flash”) and Daniel Webber (“The Dirt”) also have credits.

Ritchson plays the lead Ranger candidate with James, Courtney, Richardson, Lonsdale and Webber playing other aspirants who themselves in way over their heads. Quaid and Morales will play commanding officers.

Filming will take place around Bright and Myrtleford as well as Melbourne and Docklands Studios, location attraction agency VicScreen said. Variety understands that production will run from September to December and that a New Zealand unit will film for three weeks straddling November and December.

The completed “War Machine” will be distributed theatrically in Australia by Roadshow Films and be released internationally by Netflix.

The screenplay is by Hughes and James Beaufort. The film is produced by Hughes, Todd Lieberman (“Wonder and The Fighter”) and Alex Young (“Shotgun Wedding”), with executive producers Greg McLean (“Wolf Creek,” “Jack Irish”), Rich Cook, and Valerie Bleth Sharp (“Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes”). Production company credits go to U.S. firms Hidden Pictures and Range Media Partners and to Australia’s Huge Film – Emu Creek Pictures.

“War Machine” is estimated to create 2,100 job opportunities in Victoria support 80 local businesses and inject over A$73 million ($49 million) directly into the Victorian economy. Some A$7.5 million ($5.1 million) will go on locations, hospitality, and other regional businesses, said Victoria’s minister for creative industries, Colin Brooks.

The project has been financially supported by the Victorian Government through VicScreen’s Victorian Screen Incentive. Additionally, the film is expected to be able to access the Australian federal government’s producer offset or rebate scheme, which is administered by Screen Australia.

Other major projects currently filming in Victoria include international TV series “All Her Fault” and Sony Pictures’ feature film “Beneath the Storm.”

“’War Machine’ marks the debut project from Huge Film, a proudly Victoria-based production company founded by Patrick, screenwriter James Beaufort, and myself, with the goal of creating elevated action, thriller and horror stories for global audiences,” said McLean.

“Since directing my first feature, ‘Red Hill,’ in High Country, Omeo, back in 2010, I’ve predominantly been working on projects internationally. However, it’s been a lifelong dream to bring Hollywood-style blockbusters home to Australia,” said Hughes.