Warwick Thornton has commenced filming the much-anticipated Wolfram sequel to Sweet Country in Alice Springs, continuing his exploration of Australia’s colonial past through his acclaimed directorial style. This new chapter picks up in the 1930s and follows three determined children as they embark on a perilous journey across central Australia in search of safety from their oppressive white overseers.
A New Frontier Tale Inspired by Family Histories
The film Wolfram, now in production, revisits the harsh realities of Australia’s colonial frontier, focusing on the experiences of Indigenous families. The screenplay is crafted by Steven McGregor and David Tranter, drawing directly from Tranter’s family’s true-life accounts. Warwick Thornton, who also directed Sweet Country, expressed a personal connection to the story, reflecting shared experiences between his ancestry and Tranter’s relatives. Thornton highlighted deep-rooted ties by mentioning his great-grandmother and her daughters’ work in the Hatches Creek mines, framing Wolfram as a film centered on an emerging truth.
Expanding the Story: Focus on Family and Legacy
Unlike its predecessor, which confronted questions of justice, Wolfram shifts its focus to themes of family cohesion and survival, with family matriarch Pansy, portrayed by Deborah Mailman, leading the narrative. The story unfolds years after the events of Sweet Country, offering a new vantage point through the eyes of the women and children who endured frontier hardships. Returning cast members include familiar faces such as Luka May Glynn-Cole, Anni Finsterer, Gibson John, Natassia Gorey Furber, and Thomas M. Wright, who reprises his role as Mick Kennedy. Additional cast features Pedrea Jackson, Errol Shand, Joe Bird, John Howard, Aidan Du Chiem, Ferdinand Hoang, Jason Chong, and Matt Nable, known for his role in Riddick.
The project is produced by David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin of Bunya Productions, who will also manage distribution in Australia and New Zealand under the Dark Matter label. The creative team emphasizes the lasting impact of the first film, underscoring how further exploration of these family frontier stories could resonate even more strongly with audiences.
“The truth-telling legacy ofSweet Countryhad a profound impact on audiences all around the world, and we cannot wait to tell more of this family’s frontier experiences as we delve back into its world,” added producers David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, Bunya Productions, who will also distribute the film in Australia and New Zealand under their Dark Matter banner. “The unparalleled directorial stewardship of Warwick Thornton will bring to life the exquisite and psychologically affecting portraits of the characters created in David Tranter and Stephen McGregor’s script.”
—David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, Producers, Bunya Productions
Looking Ahead to Wolfram’s Impact
As filming moves forward in Alice Springs, Wolfram is set to deepen the narrative established in Sweet Country, exploring Indigenous Australian experiences on the colonial frontier with fresh perspective and emotional resonance. With Warwick Thornton directing Wolfram sequel to Sweet Country and the involvement of a dedicated cast and creative team, anticipation grows for a film that may further shape conversations about history, truth, and family within Australian cinema and beyond.
