Movie fans might have aJurassic Park-adjacent blockbuster franchise coming up from the land down under.The Australian action horror sci-fi moviePrimitive Warhas just received an in-depth update that is sure to excite fans of the franchise created by author Ethan Pettus.The film by co-writer and director Luke Sparkle — best known forOccupation RainfallandBring Him To Me— adapted Pettus' sci-fi military novel about soldiers in the Vietnam War finding another unexpected opponent in the jungle. And it’s set to hit theaters in 2025.
Produced by Carmel Imrie and Carly Sparke, executive producers Geoff Imrie and Luke Sparke, and co-producer Alex Becconsall, thefirst look featurettegives audiences a peek into how the film was made.Actors and crew members glistening with sweat give their takes on the production of the film, which was shot on-location with no blue or green screen in sight, according to the new promotional trailer.Jeremy PivenfromEntourageandRyan KwantenfromTrue Bloodstar alongsideTricia Helfer(Battlestar Galactica)andNick Wechsler(The Boys). Wade Muller, who also worked with Sparkle onOccupation Rainfall, is the cinematographer and Carly Sparke will also oversee production design, editing, and visual effects, which are sure to be abundant in the gory dinosaur horror movie.
Here is the official synopsis of the alternative history action film: “Vietnam. 1968. A search and rescue team known as Vulture Squad is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. As they hunt through the primordial depths of the valley, they discover ancient horrors that not only threaten to unravel their minds, but to end their lives as well. Dinosaurs have somehow been unleashed! When the casualties mount, the men of Vulture Squad must abandon their human nature and give in to their savage instincts in order to survive…the Primitive War.”
‘Primitive War’ Fills a Niche Hole in Dinosaur Films
With a 4/5 on Goodreads, Pettus' 2017 dinosaur novel entered a space dominated by Michael Crichton’sJurassic Park. That novel was later adapted into the industry-changing Spielberg classic, which has nowbroken off into a modern franchise,Jurassic World, featuring stars like Chris Pratt and Scarlett Johansson. However,Primitive Warhas been growing its fan-base rapidly, with a multi-book series that includes sequels, spin-offs, and art books, as well as a comic book adaptation and a tabletop battle game.
GeekIrelandsummarized the book as, “an action-packed, but surprisingly human affair which will no doubt provide a gripping read for dinosaur fans of a more mature persuasion. It has echoes ofJurassic Park, while still very much feeling like its own beast.” The book features Utahraptors, similar to the famous Velociraptors from theJurassic Parkfranchise — except even bigger and meaner — as the main dinosaur villain. The series also features a family of T. Rex and the prehistoric crocodile Kaprosuchus.
Anthony Ingruber (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Aaron Glenane (Interceptor), Carlos Sanson Jr (Bump), Ana Thu Nguyen (Mortal Kombat 2), Adolphus Waylee (Nautilus), Richard Brancatisano (The Messenger), Marcus Johnson (Talk to Me), and Jake Ryan (Underbelly) are also featured in the film.With the franchise-changingJurassic World Rebirthcoming out in July 2025,Primitive Warmight stear clear of a summer release.
