For years now, major Hollywood films starring killer dinosaurs have largely been restricted to the “Jurassic” franchise, in both box office numbers and audience interest. Some independent dinosaur-centric action films, like the Adam Driver-starring “65” have cut through, but the next entry in that list is the independent Australian-made “Primitive War” — the first film of its kind to headline a panel at SDCC later this year.
Adapting the book of the same name by Ethan Pettus, “Primitive War” follows a squad of American soldiers in the Vietnam War, who are sent to find a team of Green Berets lost in a remote valley, only to discover that the area has somehow become infested with prehistoric creatures of land, sea and sky. Bloody dinosaur action ensues.
The first trailer for the film has gathered over five million views on YouTube and other social media platforms, making it one of the most viewed trailers for an independent Australian film in history.
That response thrilled the films creators. Director and writer Luke Sparke (“Occupational Rainfall”) said “The reaction to the first trailer has been absolutely insane. The team and I have worked extremely hard to make this film as action packed and wild as possible. It’s a dino-action extravaganza.”
Few Australian-made films get the opportunity to headline a panel at the yearly San Diego Comic Con, but Sparke will be joined on-stage by stars Ryan Kwanten (“True Blood”), Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”), Nick Wechsler (“The Boyz”) and Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”) to discuss the film and present some teaser footage.
“From what we know this is the first time an Australian indie film or any Australian film has been given a major panel at the comic con, it’s exciting and surreal,” said Sparke.
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“Primitive War” will have a wide release in Australian cinemas with Rialto Distribution and a wide release in the U.S. with Fathom Entertainment, both on August 21, 2025.
Correction: a previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the U.S. distributor of “Primitive War” is Rialto Distribution, it is Fathom Entertainment.