Dafoe to hunt in Tasmania

Daniel Nettheim’s debut feature The Hunter, starring US actor Willem Dafoe, will shoot in Tasmania later this year.

“It’s going into production later this year, for delivery in 2011,” James Hewison, Madman Entertainment’s head of theatrical, told Encore.

The psychological thriller is based on a novel by Julia Leigh, and tells the story of a mercenary sent by an anonymous biotech company on a search for the last Tasmanian Tiger. It will be produced by Vincent Sheehan (Porchlight Films) and financed by Screen Australia, Screen NSW and Screen Tasmania.

Photography will be in charge of Andrew Lesnie.

The Hunter is Dafoe’s second Australian film, following his performance in Daybreakers.

The Tasmanian agency has announced a $285,000 investment in the project, expecting a spend of more than $900,000 in the state during production.

The Australia/New Zealand distributor is Madman, and E1 Entertainment is the international sales agent.