Orlando Bloom, famed for his roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings franchises, is set to star alongside Ethan Hawke in the upcoming Ethan Hawke jungle thriller, The Last of the Tribe. The film, which takes place deep in the Amazon rainforest, centers on a gripping story of survival and moral conflict, as revealed during pre-sales launch by Protagonist Pictures in 2024.
Plot Overview and Principal Characters
In The Last of the Tribe, Ethan Hawke portrays William Phelan, a former Chicago police officer turned corporate mercenary. His assignment leads him into the heart of the Brazilian Amazon to investigate a mysterious death, where he encounters the sole survivor of an indigenous tribe. This encounter compels Phelan to confront his past choices and decide between completing his mission under looming corporate and governmental pressures or choosing a path of redemption by safeguarding a life.
Although details about Orlando Bloom’s role remain undisclosed, his involvement adds significant star power to this adaptation of Monte Reel’s award-winning investigative journalism book. Joining the cast is also Brazilian actress and environmental advocate Zaya Guarani, noted for her appearance in Darren Aronofsky’s sci-fi documentary Postcards From Earth.
Creative Team and Production Details
Claudio Borrelli directs the movie, marking his sophomore feature following the 2020 Portuguese drama Vultures. The screenplay is crafted by three-time Emmy nominee Mark Bailey, whose previous notable work includes co-writing documentaries such as Downfall: The Case Against Boeing and The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari. The production benefits from the involvement of Edward Saxon, an Oscar-winning producer recognized for The Silence of the Lambs, along with producers Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz of Chockstone Pictures, and both Ethan and Ryan Hawke.
Reflecting on his motivation for directing, Borrelli said,
“I’m drawn to films that slam the raw, the rugged and the cruel head-on into the beautiful and the divine,”
Claudio Borrelli stated. He added,
“In this story, the rainforest is both the villain and the savior — that natural and forever conflict is the essence of what I want to capture in The Last of the Tribe.”
Orlando Bloom’s Recent Work and Industry Reputation
Orlando Bloom, while best known for iconic roles like Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean and Legolas in The Lord of the Rings, has recently expanded his filmography to include diverse projects. Last year, he starred in Prime Video’s action comedy Deep Cover, alongside Bryce Dallas Howard and Nick Mohammed. Bloom also demonstrated his versatility in the suspense-filled Red Right Hand and in the thriller The Cut, where he portrayed an aging boxer fighting for a comeback. Hawke, an Oscar nominee once again for his role in Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, teams with Bloom to bring significant star presence to this high-stakes film.
Anticipation and Industry Response
Dave Bishop, CEO of Protagonist Pictures, described the collaboration between Hawke and Bloom as an
“intense, propulsive thriller with real moral weight at its core,”
emphasizing the film’s timely and urgent themes. He commented,
“Set deep in the Brazilian Amazon, the project pairs elevated genre storytelling with urgent contemporary themes. Claudio has crafted a bold vision, and with Ethan Hawke, Orlando Bloom, and Zaya Guarani leading the cast, we’re excited to introduce this standout project to buyers at EFM.”
The producers also expressed enthusiasm about the talented team behind the film, stating,
“The Last of the Tribe is a tense, gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller, a real old-school heart-pounding ride. And yet, it is also about something that could not be more timely – the destruction of the rainforest and the people who call it home. Our fantastic cast, spearheaded by the extraordinary Ethan Hawke, and now joined by Bloom, are all so smart, and passionate, and talented and committed to the telling of this story. We are thrilled.”
Project’s Outlook and Next Steps
Currently, The Last of the Tribe has no confirmed release date as it continues seeking a distribution partner. The combination of a powerful cast, a compelling story rooted in urgent environmental and social issues, and the creative vision of director Claudio Borrelli positions the film as a noteworthy addition to the thriller genre, likely to attract attention upon release. As the film aims to blend action, moral complexity, and the stark realities of the Amazon, audiences can anticipate a tense and gripping experience.
