Crazy Rich Asians star, Ken Jeong is heading to Australia to shoot a starring role in Occupation: Rainfall, the sequel to the 2018 Australian sci-fi blockbuster Occupation. Jeong will touch down in early October, shooting in locations across Australia including the Hunter Valley and the Gold Coast. Jeong joins local favorites Temuera Morrison (Aquaman), Dan Ewing, Stephany Jacobsen (Revenge, Battlestar Galactica), Aaron Jeffery (X-men Origin: Wolverine), Zac Garred, Izzy Stephens and Trystan Go.
Several new names will also join the fold, including stars Lawrence Makoare (The Lord of the Rings, Marco Polo), Vince Colosimo (Body of Lies, Underbelly) and Tamala Shelton (Cleverman). Director Luke Sparke returns to helm the sequel with Monster Pictures on board as distributors across Australia and New Zealand.
“We’re building a whole new world with Occupation: Rainfall and to have Ken join the film alongside our awesome returning cast members is mind blowing. I’ve admired his work and his successes for years and can’t wait to see what brings to the project when he arrives here to shoot in October.” Sparke commented
Clay Epstein of Film Mode Entertainment, who sold the first film into the international market says “We are extremely excited about the follow up to what has already proven to be a huge success all over the world. This is a testament not only to Luke’s talent as a filmmaker but to audiences’ hunger for entertaining and well produced films. With even bigger F/X and more at stake on the screen, Occupation: Rainfall is going to conquer the marketplace.”
Sparke explained that Occupation: Rainfall picks up two years into the intergalactic invasion of earth, survivors in Sydney fight back in a desperate ground war. As causalities mount by the day, the resistance and their unexpected allies, uncover a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end. With the Alien invaders hell-bent on making earth their new home, the race is on to save mankind.
The film will be will be produced by mother and daughter duo Carly & Carmel Imrie (Occupation, Red Billabong). Joining them is American co-executive producer Todd Williams (The Nun, Alex and Me) and co-writer Felix Williamson (Avalon Now, The Circle). “We see massive growth potential for the franchise, the Occupation team did an amazing job with the first film so we naturally wanted to be on-board for the sequel. Working together we hope to deliver the biggest science fiction blockbuster Australian audiences have ever seen” Grant Hardie of Monster Pictures commented.
Jeong can currently be seen in the box office sensation Crazy Rich Asians as well as upcoming films Goosebumps 2, Boss Level and Wonder Park. In 2019, he will serve as a judge on Fox’s celebrity singing competition The Masked Singer. Jeong is also set to headline his first standup comedy special for Netflix, Ken Jeong: First Date, which will be directed by Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu.