The incredible larger than life story of former World Motorcycle Champion, Wayne Gardner will be given the big screen treatment as Matthew Metcalfe of General Film Corporation and Fraser Brown of FB Pictures announced today the feature documentary project has entered production.
Wayne tells the improbable, triumphant true story of 1987 World Motorcycle Champion Wayne Gardner’s rise, despite the doubters and in the face of adversity, to become one of the most iconic motorcycle racers of all time.
The film will be helmed by acclaimed Australian director, Jeremy Sims (Last Cab to Darwin, Beneath Hill 60) with the screen treatment written by Sims and Metcalfe.
Sims states, “This is a passion project for me – I love the feature doc format - and I am excited to be bringing the thrilling and complex story of Wayne Gardner’s incredible journey to cinema goers. It is a tale of speed, danger, love, adversity, dogged willpower and, eventually, triumph, all set in the heady days of Australia’s ‘coming of age’ in the late 80’s. I was there, and I’m aiming to take our audience there too…"
Metcalfe stated, “After seeing Last Cab to Darwin at TiFF 2015 I knew that Jeremy was the best person to approach to tell this story. His understanding of myth and drama showed me that he could bring this action and passion filled story to light."
Wayne will be made with major investment from Screen Australia as well as The New Zealand Film Commission in association with Henla Investments and White Comet Films. Transmission Films will distribute the film across Australasia with Paris based Upside Distribution handling worldwide sales.
Wayne is to be produced by Matthew Metcalfe of General Film Corporation (Australia), the award winning production house responsible for the major motion pictures Beyond the Edge, Dean Spanley, The Dead Lands and the upcoming McLaren and 6 Days. Fraser Brown of FB Pictures (New Zealand) also produces alongside his FB Pictures banner. FB Pictures are responsible for acclaimed Kiwi drama Orphans and Kingdoms. Metcalfe and Brown recently worked together producing Roger Donaldson’s McLaren, due for release in 2017.
Brown says, “It’s not motorcycles that got me excited about telling this story on the big screen, it’s the character of Wayne Gardner. I’m certain audiences from all walks of life, whether they ride or not, will be as captivated by Wayne’s fascinating journey from Wollongong kid to Australian hero as I was.”
Raised in workingman’s Australia with a good-sized chip on his shoulder, Wayne follows Gardener’s struggles to harness his rage for racetrack glory and conquer the demons that threatened to stop him in his tracks. Wayne will take viewers on a high-speed journey into the worlds most dynamic and visually arresting sport, Grand Prix motorcycle racing - revealing the loves, lives, personalities and passion of one of the worlds last great gladiatorial sports.