Gold: Zac Efron to Star in New Survival Thriller Film
The Greatest Showman star Zac Efron has officially signed on for one of the leading roles in director Anthony Hayes’ forthcoming survival thriller titled Gold. On top of directing, Hayes also serves as co-writer and is expected to co-star in the project.
“This is an exciting, gripping and timely tale about greed, humanity, who we are, what we’ve done to the world and where we are heading if we aren’t careful,” Hayes said in a statement (via Deadline). “To have Zac Efron as my main man on this film is an absolute gift and to see what he is creating already is like nothing we’ve seen from him before. I can’t wait to deliver this bold, visceral and cinematic film to audiences all around the world.”
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Gold centers around two strangers traveling through a desert who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty with one man leaving to secure the necessary equipment. The other man remains and must endure harsh desert elements, ravenous wild dogs, and mysterious intruders, whilst battling the sinking suspicion that he has been abandoned to his own fate.
The film will be directed by Anthony Hayes (Animal Kingdom) from a script he co-wrote with Polly Smyth. It will be produced by Hayes through his Rogue Star Pictures banner along with Deeper Water Films’ John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz. The film will be executive produced by Andrew Mann, Peter Touche, Simon Williams, Paul Wiegard, Will Clarke, Andy Mayson, Nick Forward, and Mike Runagall.
Production is expected to begin in Australia later this month.
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Zac Efron first gained worldwide recognition for his breakout role as Troy Bolton in Disney’s High School Musical trilogy film. He then went on to star in high-profile films such as 17 Again, The Lorax, Baywatch, Neighbors, The Greatest Showman, and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evile and Vile. The 33-year-old actor will next be seen in Disney+’s upcoming Three Men and a Baby remake and Blumhouse’s Firestarter remake.
(Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for AT&T and DIRECTV)
