Eric Bana Delays Release of ‘The Dry 2,’ Melbourne Festival Tweaks Presentations as Australia Adjusts to SAG-AFTRA Strike
variety.comPatrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The scheduled Aug. 24 release of the Eric Bana-starring Australian thriller film “Force of Nature: The Dry 2” has been indefinitely postponed, due to the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike.
The strike is also forcing adjustments at the Melbourne International Film Festival, which starts in early August. “It is with some regret, but a large amount of conviction that we have decided to postpone the release of ‘Force of Nature: The Dry 2’,” said Bana, who both stars and produces through his Pick Up Truck Pictures. “Force of Nature: The Dry 2” is based on the bestselling novel by Jane Harper with Bana reprising his character, Aaron Falk, as a follow-on to the 2021 hit.
Robert Connolly returns to direct the movie. Production is by Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky of Made Up Stories, alongside Bana and Connolly through his Arenamedia. “I’m incredibly proud of this much anticipated Australian film and want to be able to do it justice by promoting it thoroughly.
Due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, of which I am a long-standing member, it is not possible to do that at this time. Just as we did with ‘The Dry,’ our plan is to be face-to-face with the cinema going public, through event screenings, Q&As, and press appearances at the time of release.
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