Catherine Laga’aia, who is set to make her breakout as the titular character in Disney’s upcoming live-action “Moana,” has been tapped to lead the Australian Gen-Z thriller “Crashout.”
Deadhouse Films unveiled the casting for the project at Berlin’s European Film Market. The film marks Laga’aia’s first project after landing the headline role in Disney’s adaptation.
“Crashout” follows three high school graduates who become stranded on a remote stretch of highway after a fatal car accident. In a desperate bid to conceal their unintentional crime, they fabricate a found footage film. The darkly comic satirical thriller explores themes of self-preservation and narrative control through a contemporary youth perspective.
The film is written and directed by Nick Annas, with Helen Tuck and Enzo Tedeschi producing for Deadhouse Films. Executive producers are Deanne Weir of WeirAnderson Films, along with Bobby Romia and Tianna Roberts of newly formed Atypical Originals. Stephanie Pringle and Alison Fowler of Chicken and Chips Casting are handling the casting.
Annas, now 19, wrote the screenplay when he was just 17, ”mostly in my childhood bedroom or the back of my high school classrooms,” the writer-director said. “Welcoming Catherine to lead the film in her first project after ‘Moana’ feels pretty unreal. ‘Crashout’ will be a very different ride, but Catherine’s fearless pivot is exactly the bold energy the film is fueled by. I couldn’t imagine anyone better to be stuck in a forest with.”
“Crashout” is scheduled to begin production in Australia in March.
Laga’aia is represented by the Agency at AIPA, Venture Entertainment Partners, CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
