First image of Rob in "The Rover"

EW have just released the first still from Robert Pattinson's upcoming film "The Rover".

Australia was founded as a repository for crooks and criminals — a wretched hive of scum and villainy, like the British Empire’s own Mos Eisley. Of course, that was a long time ago and the Australian national demeanor has since shifted from “kill or be killed” to “live and let live,” but David Michôd’s gritty 2010 drama Animal Kingdom chronicled some of the country’s more modern criminal descendents. In his upcoming sophomore effort, The Rover, the director takes things even further. 

Robert Pattinson plays a denizen of the Outback in the near future, after a worldwide financial collapse has sent many like him running to the still viable mines of the Australian desert. “It’s like a new gold rush,” says Michôd. “Where people from all corners of the world have come out to the desert to scrape out an existence. Petty criminals and miscreants and hustlers.” Guy Pearce, who had an uncharacteristically reserved role in Animal Kingdom, gets to sink his teeth into a nicely nasty part opposite Pattinson. “The basic story is really quite elemental,” says Michôd. “You’ve got a really dark, dangerous, murderous person in Guy’s character, and in Rob’s character you have a quite troubled and damaged, but beautiful and naïve, soul.” 

Of course, just by its setting and basic plot, The Rover is poised to draw comparisons to one of the antipodean country’s most memorable cinematic contributions. “You put cars in the desert in Australia and people are going to think of Mad Max,” says Michôd. “And with all due respect to that film — and I stress that — I think The Rover is going to be way more chillingly authentic and menacing.” 

For more on The Rover and first looks at other upcoming projects, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on stands Friday.

Source / via

Robert Pattinson's "The Rover" Gets Greenlight

Robert Pattinson's next film, The Rover, has been given the green-light! :)

As previously reported, it should start filming in January, and according to @TheRoverFilm, Guy Pearce will play the character of 'Eric' and Robert Pattinson will play 'Rey'.

Check out the official press release below.

Official Press Release: 

Screen Australia has announced almost $20 million investment in a diverse slate of feature films, adult television drama projects and children’s television series. The investment in 12 projects will trigger $100 million in production.

Features approved include The Rover, a futuristic Western from the producer and writer/director of Animal Kingdom, Liz Watts and David Michôd. Michôd will join Watts and David Linde (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as a producer. The film’s cast includes world-class acting talents Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce.

Screen Australia’s Chief Executive Ruth Harley said, “These four highly engaging and diverse Australian stories have huge potential. The Rover is a powerful well-crafted script from a talented team with an impressive cast. Anna Broinowski’s Aim High in Creation is a distinctive, ambitious film with a humorous and entertaining story. Felony has international breakout potential and Healing promises to be a highly emotional and moving story on screen.”

THE ROVER

Porchlight Films Pty Ltd in association with Lava Bear Films LLC
Producers Liz Watts, David Linde, David Michôd
Writer/Director David Michôd
International Sales FilmNation
Australian Distributor Village Roadshow

Synopsis The Australian desert in a dangerous and damaged near future. Eric has left everything, everyone and every semblance of human kindness behind him. And then he has his last possession stolen by a gang of dangerous criminals. Eric sets off on a ruthless mission to track them down, forced along the way to enlist the help of Rey, the naïve and injured junior member of the gang, who was left behind in the bloody chaos of the gang’s most recent robbery

via

Inside Film Reports on proposed Shooting Dates For “The Rover”

An Australian website called Inside Film is reporting that Robert Pattinson's next film “The Rover” could begin shooting on 24th January 2013, with the wrap-date as late March 2013.

Remember though, these are only the proposed dates, so nothing is confirmed just yet, but when we hear anything more concrete we’ll let you know straight away!! : )

Source / via

FilmNation Acquires ‘The Rover’ (Robert Pattinson)

Via Deadline

Cannes, May 21, 2012 – FilmNation Entertainment has acquired the majority of worldwide rights to The Rover from Animal Kingdom writer-director David Michôd. Michôd has written the script based on a story he conceived with Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty, The Great Gatsby).

This deal marks FilmNation’s migration into the acquisition space after ramping up their film investments and development slate. In addition to a full-fledged international sales arm, the banner now effectively develops, finances, and produces projects in-house as well as acquiring filmmaker driven content.

The Rover is set in the Australian desert in a dangerous and dysfunctional near future. Eric has left everything and every semblance of human kindness behind him. When his last possession, his car, is stolen by a gang of dangerous criminals, Eric sets off to track them down and is forced along the way to enlist the help of Reynolds (Jess: That's Robert Pattinson's role!) the naïve simpleton member of the gang left behind in the bloody chaos of the gang’s most recent escape.

David Linde will produce for Lava Bear Films, while Liz Watts will produce for Porchlight Films. Tory Metzger, President of Lava Bear, will oversee the production for the company. The film will also be produced in association with Blue Tongue Films, the directors collective of which Michôd is a member. Production will begin late 2012 in Australia.

FilmNation Entertainment’s Glen Basner said: “I loved Animal Kingdom and am thrilled to collaborate with such an exciting talent as David Michod. This film represents another big step for FilmNation as we continue to invest in high caliber films. The Rover is going to be one kick ass flick.”

Writer-director David Michôd said: “It’s a pretty clearly encouraging indicator for me with a new project when people of serious smarts and taste want to be involved and be involved early. I really feel like I’ve received that tick of approval in a big way today from the good folk at FilmNation.”

Added producer David Linde: “David Michôd has an incredibly unique voice and style that has already been acclaimed around the world. The Rover continues this style of combining powerful imagery with a story that draws you in from the opening scene. We are very pleased that FilmNation has joined us as our partner in both the US and other places around the globe.”

Producer Liz Watts said: “We are looking forward to working with David once again on The Rover – an international story of iconic proportions, imbued with the distinctiveness of David’s direction and storytelling with an Australian background not seen before. It’s fantastic to be partnering with FilmNation on the film, and together with Lava Bear we are all looking forward to getting into production.”

Territories excluded in the deal are: UK, Latin America, Australia & NZ, Benelux, Scandinavia, Greece, Indonesia, Middle East, Poland, Croatia/Slovenia, Romania/Bulgaria/Hungary, Serbia and Turkey.

FilmNation will represent the U.S. sales with UTA Independent Film Group. The deal was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group, David Linde and Adam Rymer at Lava Bear and Glen Basner and Alison Cohen at FilmNation Entertainment. The producers were represented by attorneys Nina Stevenson and David Boyle.

Animal Kingdom won the Grand Jury Prize for World Dramatic Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival, a National Board of Review Award for Top Independent Films, Best First Film at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, and numerous awards from The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts including Best Picture and Best Director. Weaver received multiple nominations and other awards for her performance, including an Academy Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Michôd is represented by UTA, Australian agency Cameron Cresswell and attorneys Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein.

At Cannes, FilmNation Entertainment is also handling international sales on The Bling Ring from director Sofia Coppola, Pedro Almodóvar’s comedy Los Amantes Pasajeros, the documentary Barca from director Paul Greengrass, and Tracers starring Taylor Lautner and produced by Temple Hill Entertainment. In addition, FilmNation has two in-competition titles: Lawless from director John Hillcoat starring Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy; and Jeff Nichols’ Mud which is also produced by FilmNation’s Aaron Ryder, starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon.

David Linde’s Lava Bear Films is currently developing a slate of projects including A Giant directed by Gil Kenan from a screenplay he wrote as well, the Untitled Goffigan Thriller from writer L.D. Goffigan, and the Untitled David Goyer Project, a supernatural thriller project based on an original idea by David S. Goyer.

Liz Watts and Porchlight Films produced Michôd’s debut feature Animal Kingdom. Porchlight’s producer Vincent Sheehan’s most recent release was The Hunter, starring Willem Dafoe, adapted from the Julia Leigh novel, and directed by Daniel Nettheim. Porchlight is currently in post-production on the Australian/ German/ UK co-production, LORE, directed by Cate Shortland (Somersault); and feature debut of Tony Krawitz, Dead Europe, working with Producers Emile Sherman and Iain Canning. Porchlight has a number of feature films in development including Valve, with Director Andrew Lancaster, and F***ked! A Romance with Red Dog director Kriv Stenders.

Another new role for Robert Pattinson! "The Rover"

It really has been a big 24 hours for Robert Pattinson and his fans!

On top of the three Cosmopolis clips we got today, and his new film-role "Mission: Blacklist #1" being confirmed, we now have even more news!!
His rep has just confirmed to Gossip Cop that he has yet another new role! 

The Rover.

The Rover follows one man’s pursuit through the Australian Outback of the men who stole his car.

It will be directed by David Michod (Animal Kingdom) and produced by Tory Metzger and David Linde’s Lava Bear.
Pattinson will play alongside Guy Pearce as a character named Reynolds, the brother of a thief who gets left behind when an encounter with the police goes very wrong.

We'll update with more details when we get them!