The next generation of “Blondini Gang” have been announced.
Dean O’Gorman (The Hobbit, The Almighty Johnsons) James Rolleston (Boy, The Dark Horse) and Ashleigh Cummings (Puberty Blues, Tomorrow when the War Began) will star in Pork Pie – the modern reboot of the 1979 kiwi classic Goodbye Pork Pie.
O’Gorman, who most recently played Kirk Douglas in Hollywood bio-pic, Trumbo, is thrilled to be returning home from Los Angeles to take the lead role of struggling writer turned accidental outlaw, Jon Hardy.
“Its brilliant to be able to come back to NZ to play this role,” say O’Gorman. “As a child of the 80’s, this film was one I remember well. I am excited to work with the team to create a film that plays homage to the original while introducing the younger generation to this great kiwi tale."
Much loved 19-year-old local star, James Rolleston has been undergoing intensive precision driving training as part of his preparation for the character, fearless wheel man, Luke Anaphora.
“Playing Luke is a dream opportunity for me…I’m love the script and the character and am looking forward to some of the exciting action too!”
Ashleigh Cummings, playing the vivacious and passionate, Keira Leigh-Jones, completes the lead cast. Cummings received rave reviews and multiple award nominations for her leading role in the hit series Puberty Blues and for her co-starring role in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Ashleigh will next be seen in the upcoming Aussie film, Hounds of Love.
Director Matt Murphy had this to say about the finalised cast.
“I couldn’t be more delighted with the line up. They’re three unique personalities and very exciting acting talent. There’s going to be a fun and very dynamic onscreen chemistry bouncing around the MINI”
The fourth star of the film is the 4 cylinder twin-power turbo MINI 3 Door Hatch - Cooper S, providing an injection of grunt and power to the wild action and chase sequences planned for the reboot.
Pork Pie is being produced by Tom Hern (The Dark Horse) and Four Knights Film in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, NZOnAir, Random Films, Augusto, Park Road Post Production, Treehouse Films and Southern Light Films.
Hern is equally pleased about the cast they’ve assembled.
“I loved working with James on The Dark Horse so its exciting to have him on another of our projects and Dean and Ashleigh are darn talented too. Our Blondini Gang will be pretty bloody awesome I reckon.”
Timothy White, Tim Wood and Alan Harris are the films Executive Producers.
Studiocanal will distribute the film in New Zealand and Australia. They have a wide New Zealand release set for the Summer of 2016/17.