The Big Picture Emmy winner Jeremy Piven has officially enlisted for the Primitive War. A feature adaptation of Ethan Pettus’s sci-fi military novel series is in the works with Piven set to star alongside Battlestar Galactica veteran Tricia Helfer, True Blood star Ryan Kwanten, and Revenge alum Nick Wechsler. Principal photography will soon begin on the Gold Coast of Australia with Occupation: Rainfall helmer Luke Sparke directing from his own script and producing under his Sparke Films banner.
Sparke is leaning into the horror angle of Primitive War, which takes place in 1968 as the Vietnam War is raging on. The film and novels center on an elite recon team known as the Vulture Squad who are sent deep into the jungle to track the whereabouts of a lost Green Beret platoon. Isolated from the outside world, they quickly realize that something else lurks within the trees.
Sparke teased the film as a mix of action and survival horror with plenty of war themes a la Apocalypse Now and Platoon, adding in pre-production his love for the world Pettus created. “I was captivated by the imagery surrounding Ethan’s book and the story it told," he said. "I’ve worked hard on capturing that essence but also the grittiness, horror aspects, and military edge.
Who Else Stars in 'Primitive War'? Close With the sci-fi adaptation, Piven re-enters the realm of horror-thrillers after last year's Vindicta with Sean Astin. This will mark his third collaboration with Sparke, also lining up Occupation Rainfall: Chapter 2 and Fight for Your Life, the former of which will also include Helfer.
Primitive War will soon begin filming in Australia. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the sci-fi horror adaptation.