A24 to release Aussie director David Michod's 'The Rover'

Move over, Mad Max.

New York-based indie production company-distributor A24 announced Thursday that it has landed U.S. theatrical distribution rights for “The Rover,” a post-apocalyptic thriller set in the Australian desert starring Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson.

The film was written and directed by award-winning Aussie filmmaker David Michôd, whose debut feature, “Animal Kingdom,” became the talk of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and helped launch the stateside careers of co-stars Joel Edgerton and Jacki Weaver. Michôd wrote “The Rover” based on a short story he conceived with Edgerton.

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Set a decade after the collapse of the western economic system, at a time when order has disintegrated Down Under and desperados rule the badlands, “The Rover” follows grizzled tough guy Eric (Pearce) as he travels the outback by car. When a gang of villains steal his vehicle, they leave behind a mysterious, wounded man, Rey (Pattinson). The two pursue the gang, with Eric willing to take any measure necessary to reclaim what’s his.

Also starring Scoot McNairy, Anthony Hayes, David Field and Gillian Jones, “The Rover” was shot on location in the deserts of South Australia and is now in post-production in Sydney. Village Roadshow will release the film in Australia and New Zealand.

In just under a year of operation, A24 has made waves in Hollywood putting out the buzzy, youth-skewing indie dramas "Spring Breakers" (which set per-screen attendance records its opening weekend and clocked the biggest debut of a movie in limited release this year) and this month's "The Bling Ring" from director Sofia Coppola. In August, A24 will release the teen dramedy "The Spectacular Now," which also premiered at Sundance this year.

No release date for "The Rover" has been set.

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chris.lee@latimes.com

Twitter: @__chrislee

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