Aussie actors Ryan Kwanten and Sullivan Stapleton have both garnered notice in the United States, the former for his pulse-raising role as the dopey but sexy Jason Stackhouse on True Blood, the latter as one of the dangerous Cody clan in the Oscar-nominated drama Animal Kingdom. Both have subsequently scored roles in hotly anticipated American movies. Kwanten will appear opposite Sylvester Stallone and Terry Crews in the John Herzfeld drama Reach Me, while Stapleton will co-star opposite Ryan Gosling and Josh Brolin in Ruben Fleischer's Gangster Squad. But on their home turf, the two will be a force to be reckoned with, taking on the duel leads in the true-crime thriller Cut Snake.
Penned by Australian TV writer Blake Ayshford, Cut Snake will unravel the real-life tragedy that unfolded in 1973 Brisbane, when a heist gone wrong led to the Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub being set on fire, a disaster that caused the deaths of 15 people. The film will focus on the two ex-cons that caused the blaze, and Deadline reports Kwanten and Stapleton will tackle these tricky roles. Newly released from prison, Stapleton's character convinces Kwanten's, who is on the verge of getting married, to help him out on this ill-fated robbery. Australian ingénue Rachael Taylor, who co-starred in the short-lived 2011 Charlie's Angels series, is attached to play Kwanten's bride-to-be. The Home Song Stories' writer-director Tony Ayres will helm.
Cut Snake is still securing financing, but it's expected to roll into production by mid-2013. While the feature is obviously intended for Australian audiences, Kwanten and Stapleton's visibility Stateside could mean a U.S. release of the drama would be forthcoming.
