A new Stan Original film, “Poker Face”, will hit the platform on Nov. 22.
The film is directed by Russell Crowe, who stars alongside Liam Hemsworth, RZA, Aden Young, Steve Bastoni, Daniel MacPherson, Brooke Satchwell, Paul Tassone, Matt Nable, Benedict Hardie, Jacqueline McKenzie, Molly Grace, Elsa Pataky and Jack Thompson.
It tells the story of Jake Foley (Crowe), a tech billionaire and gambler who gives his best friends a night they’ll never forget with the chance to win more money than they’ve ever dreamed of. In order to play, however, they must give up their secrets.
The film was shot in New South Wales with finance from MEP Capital, Alceon Entertainment Partners, DC Tour and Screen NSW though its Made in NSW fun and Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Rebate.
“Poker Face” is Crowe’s second directorial outing, following 2014’s AACTA Award-winning “The Water Diviner”.
He noted the pace of the production.
“This was quite an extreme project for me, came on to my radar very fast. Rewriting and casting in a five-week period while the city went into hard lockdown. Trying to manage resources and people without the usual ability to meet and talk frequently over many months as you would normally do in pre-production on a film certainly put unusual pressures in place,” he said.
“Somehow though, those pressures have played into the movie’s favour and taken the subject out of a certain realm of fantasy and grounded it in reality. What do we leave behind? What is our legacy? What is left to do for a man who has everything he needs, except time?”
Cailah Scobie, Stan’s chief content officer, said: “Today’s announcement reflects Stan’s ongoing commitment to deliver world-class original films and series featuring the biggest names in Australia and Hollywood – both in front and behind the camera.
“It’s a pleasure to see our collaboration with the Australian screen icon Russell Crowe continue, following his unforgettable performance in the Stan Original film “True History of the Kelly Gang”. Supported by an outstanding cast, Russell has created a powerful and explosive film in “Poker Face” and we know audiences will be all-in to see it.”
The film is produced by Gary Hamilton from Arclight Films and Keith Roger from Fear of God Films. Arclight Films’ Ying Ye, actor and producer Addam Bramich, Ryan Hamilton, Catchlight Studios’ Jeanette Volturno and Jason Clark, as well as Matt Williams are also producers.