Toa Fraser's upcoming Maori action epic The Dead Lands, along with the announcement that the film's world premiere will be part of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
The Dead Lands follows Hongi, a Maori chieftain's teenage son, who must avenge his father's murder in order to bring peace and honour to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery.
Vastly outnumbered by the band of villains, Hongi's only hope is to pass through the feared and forbidden Dead Lands and forge an uneasy alliance with the mysterious 'Warrior', a ruthless fighter who has ruled the area for years.
Hongi is played by James Rolleston (Boy, The Dark Horse). The film also stars Lawrence Makoare (Die Another Day, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), Te Kohe Tuhaka (Sione's 2: Unfinished Business), George Henare (Once Were Warriors), Xavier Horan (Dean Spanley) and Rena Owen (Once Were Warriors).
LAWRENCE MAKOARE ... A Kiwi actor played three different roles in "Lord of the Rings" series, more speaking parts than any other actor in it, although his face is never seen. In "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" he played Lurtz, the muscular, arrow-throwing leader of the Uruk-Hai and in "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" he played Gothmog, the macho leader of Saruman's new and improved Orcs who is described by his creators as a cross between John Wayne and the Elephant Man, and lastly, the Witch King, the helmeted, towering wizard who engages Eowyn in battle. All three of his villainous characters are killed by the heroes.
Also as BOLG in The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (post-production)
