True History of the Kelly Gang (film)


True History of the Kelly Gang is a 2019 bushranger film directed by Justin Kurzel, written by Shaun Grant, and based upon the 2000 novel of the same name by Peter Carey. A fictionalised account of the life of bushranger and outlaw Ned Kelly, the film stars George MacKay, Essie Davis, Nicholas Hoult, Charlie Hunnam and Russell Crowe.
It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2019. It was released in Australia on Australia Day 2020, by Transmission Films and Stan, in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2020, by Picturehouse Entertainment, and in the United States on 24 April 2020, by IFC Films.

Plot

Based on Peter Carey's novel, the film is a highly fictionalised account of the life of Australian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang as they flee from authorities during the 1870s. It is ostensibly written by Kelly to his fictional daughter.

Cast

Director Justin Kurzel mentioned he was developing the film in December 2016 while doing press for Assassin's Creed.
In November 2017, the project was officially announced, with George MacKay cast as Ned Kelly, and Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult and Essie Davis making up the supporting cast. Filming was announced as beginning in March 2018 in Victoria, Australia. By April, the film's production start was shifted to July. Production started on 22 July. It was revealed in September that Charlie Hunnam was cast in the film.

Release

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2019 and will be released in Australian cinemas in 2020 by Transmission Films. Australian streaming rights were acquired by Stan, which will release the film on their service as a Stan original. The film was given a limited release in Australian cinemas 9 January 2020 and will be released on Stan on Australia Day, 26 January 2020.
Picturehouse Entertainment will release the film theatrically in the UK and Ireland starting 28 February 2020.
In September 2019, IFC Films acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film. It was released on 24 April 2020. and was number 1 at the box office.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, True History of the Kelly Gang holds an approval rating of 79% based on 145 reviews, with an average rating of 6.89/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Its unusual approach won't be for all viewers, but True History of the Kelly Gang takes a distinctively postmodern look at Australia's past." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 75 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".