April 29, 2002
Garry Maddox
Sydney Morning Herald
Australian actress Naomi Watts from Mulholland Drive, pictured right, is the latest big name to join the cast of the Ned Kelly film that started shooting in rural Victoria yesterday.
Directed by Gregor Jordan (Two Hands, Buffalo Soldiers), it stars Heath Ledger as Ned, Geoffrey Rush as Superintendent Hare and Orlando Bloom from The Lord of the Rings as Joe Byrne.
The blue-chip cast also includes Rachel Griffiths, Joel Edgerton, Peter Phelps, Russell Dykstra, Bud Tingwell, Geoff Morrell and Kris McQuade.
"I'm lucky to have got together such a great group of Australian actors to tell this story," said Jordan. The film is based on Robert Drewe's book Our Sunshine.
Watts joins Kelly gang
Herald Sun
Cinematic cutie-pie Naomi Watts has signed on for Gregor Jordan's feature film Ned Kelly, joining an impressive line-up including Geoffrey Rush and Heath Ledger, who'll play the helmeted outlaw.
Filming began in rural Victoria yesterday, although Watts – who shot to Hollywood prominence last year in Mulholland Drive – is not scheduled to make an on-set appearance until June.
Also in the cast is Lord Of The Rings star Orlando Bloom, who plays Joe Byrne, while Joel Edgerton plays Aaron Sherritt, Rush Superintendent Hare and Rachel Griffiths Mrs Scott.
Peter Phelps, Russell Dykstra, Charles "Bud" Tingwell and Kris McQuade are also in the cast.
Watts runs with 'Kelly' gang in Aussie biopic
Lawrie Zion
The Hollywood Reporter
Melbourne, Australia - Fresh from her acclaimed performance in David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive," expatriate Australian actress Naomi Watts has been cast to star opposite Heath Ledger in the Gregor Jordan-directed "Ned Kelly."
Watts joins a cast that has now been confirmed to include Geoffrey Rush, Rachel Griffiths, Orlando Bloom, Joel Edgerton and Peter Phelps. Watts is filming "Le Divorce" with director James Ivory, and she will join the "Ned Kelly" shoot in June.
Based on the book "Our Sunshine" by Robert Drewe, the period drama, which started shooting Monday in rural Victoria, chronicles the adventures of Australia's most notorious outlaw, who eluded authorities while carrying out a series of robberies before being hanged in 1880.
Kelly will be played by Ledger (HR 10/22). Watts will play Kelly's love interest, while Rush will portray the policeman who led the operation to capture the outlaw. Griffiths, who stars in HBO's "Six Feet Under," plays a girlfriend of one of the members of Kelly's gang.
"I'm lucky to have got together such a great group of Australian actors to tell this story," said Jordan ("Two Hands," "Buffalo Soldiers"). "Geoffrey, Naomi and Rachel are all in demand both here and internationally, and Heath gave up some big roles so he could play Ned."
"Ned Kelly" is being executive produced by Working Title Films in the United Kingdom. It's the first project to be made through the company's Australian subsidiary, Working Title Australia, which was formed last year and is headed by Tim White.
An Endymion Films production in association with WTA, "Ned Kelly" is being produced by Nelson Woss and Lynda House. Executive producers are WT's Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Tim White. Universal Pictures has worldwide distribution rights.
Previous updates
