‘It feels completely different to other films that I’ve been in’: Eric Bana talks the importance of The Dry
On a new episode of Mumbrella’s one-on-one podcast series, host Neil Griffiths is joined by Australian film star, Eric Bana.
Bana spoke to Griffiths about his new film, Force of Nature: The Dry 2, out in Australian cinemas now, and the importance of the sequel to the 2020 smash hit.
Bana – who has been in countless Hollywood blockbusters like Troy, Hulk, Munich, Funny People and Star Trek – said the importance of telling Australian stories holds a special place in his heart.
“It does feel more special. I mean, I’m a producer on the film and to make it with one of my best mates [director Robert Connolly], it feels completely different to other films that I’ve been in for that simple reason,” Bana said.
“And obviously this is my home and so to get the chance to make films here that Australians can be, be proud of… it does feel different.”
The success of The Dry upon its release in 2020 was not something that Bana nor Connolly saw coming, especially given that it was released at the backend of the COVID pandemic when restrictions on going to the cinema were only starting to be loosened.
The film had one of the highest grossing Australian film opening weekends ever ($3.5 million) and is currently the 15th highest grossing local movie of all time.
“We just kept pinching ourselves and it just kept going and going,” Bana recalled.
“In America, things become a hit within the first week or two and that’s it. Whereas The Dry just kept on building and building. It was like this snowball… there was never a definitive moment where we knew what was going to happen with that film.”
Listen to the chat with Bana, as well as Connolly, Jane Harper, and The Dry producer, Jodi Matterson, here.
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Neil Griffiths is the editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
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