Crime thriller Force of Nature, the Victorian-made sequel to box office hit The Dry, has released its first look image off the back of IFC Films acquiring the North American rights at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Based on the bestselling novel by award-winning Victorian author Jane Harper, Force of Nature reunites the successful team behind The Dry – Melbourne’s own Hollywood star Eric Bana, Victorian writer and director Robert Connolly (Blueback, Emily, Balibo), and producers Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky and Jodi Matterson for Made Up Stories (Anatomy of a Scandal, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing).

Shot entirely in Victoria, Force of Nature spent seven weeks filming in stunning and accessible locations across the state, including the Dandenong Ranges, the Yarra Valley and the Otways, with the support of VicScreen’s Regional Location Assistance Fund. This incentive supports productions to film off the beaten path and accommodate their cast and crew in the regional location.

IFC Films will release the film in North America in 2023. Roadshow Films has acquired the thriller for Australia and New Zealand, Leonine Studios for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Notorious Pictures for Italy and Spain, Sky for the UK, Three Lines for Benelux, M2 for Eastern Europe and Selmer for Scandinavia.

“Eric Bana brought the character of Aaron Falk to life last year, intriguing audiences across the globe. Returning to this beautifully written true-crime universe with Eric, Robert, and the amazing team at Made Up Stories ensures all the ingredients that made The Dry a success, is certain to be repeated with Force of Nature.”

Arianna Bocco, IFC Films president

Force of Nature follows the story of five women heading out into a remote wilderness on an executive retreat. When only four women return, Detective Aaron Falk investigates, discovering secrets lurking in the mountains and tangled webs of friendships, suspicion and betrayal among the group.

Bana reprises his leading role as Detective Falk and is surrounded by a cast of world-class local talent including Anna Torv, Deborra-Lee Furness, Richard Roxburgh, Tony Briggs and Jacqueline McKenzie.