‘Dirty John’ actor Eric Bana and ‘Alice in Wonderland’ star Mia Wasikowska have joined the production ‘Blueback’ as principal photography begins in Australia.

Adapted for the screen by writer-director Robert Connolly from Booker Prize nominee Tim Winton’s critically acclaimed novella of the same name. The film centres on Abby, a child who befriends a magnificent wild blue groper while diving. When Abby realises that the fish is under threat, she takes inspiration from her activist Mum, Dora, and takes on poachers to save her friend. There starts her life-long journey to save the world’s coral reefs.

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Wasikowska will take on the role of Abby while Bana will play Macka. Also on the cast are Radha Mitchell (London Has FallenPitch Black) as Dora. Ariel Donoghue and Ilsa Fogg will make their feature film debuts playing younger versions of Mia’s character Abby. The supporting cast includes Liz Alexander (The Secret She Keeps) as older Dora, Kenyan-Australian newcomer Albert Mwangi as Gitundu and Clarence Ryan (Cleverman) as Briggs.

The film is said to be about friendship, family, ecological activism and a celebration of the natural world, for a new generation.

Filming will take place in two remote parts of Western Australia – Bremer Bay and Ningaloo Reef.