EXCLUSIVE: Eric Bana praises up-and-coming actor Joe Klocek, 25, for his incredible performance in The Dry playing his character’s younger self
Hollywood star Eric Bana has worked alongside the likes of Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman and Rachel McAdams during his successful career.
But an up-and-comer in his latest film, The Dry, truly wowed the Australian actor.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the movie’s premiere in Sydney, Eric praised Brisbane-born Joe Klocek, 25, for a ‘beautiful job’ in the murder mystery.
Scroll down for video
EXCLUSIVE: Eric Bana praises up-and-coming actor Joe Klocek for his incredible performance playing his charter’s youngster self in The Dry
Joe plays a younger version of the film’s lead character, Federal Agent Aaron Falk (played by Eric).
‘Joe did a beautiful job in the film, which I was thrilled with, even in the early cuts we knew Joe had done an amazing job,’ Eric said.
‘It was great for me, because a large part of the story is in the past and the present, so the casting of that role was really pivotal. He did an amazing screen test and was fantastic,’ he continued.
‘A large part of the story is in the past and the present, so the casting was really pivotal’: Eric said he knew ‘even in the early cuts’ that Joe Klocek (pictured) was perfect for the role
Project: The Dry was filmed across more than 20 regional towns in rural Victoria last year, before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Eric plays the lead character, Federal Agent Aaron Falk
Star: Joe plays a younger version of Eric’s character
Eric added: ‘In fact, all the young actors were great, but I was particularly thrilled with Joe’s casting and I think he’s absolutely brained it.’
Joe was named one of the Casting Guild of Australia’s 2019 Rising Stars.
He was joined by Sam Corlett (Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), BeBe Bettencourt (Stan’s upcoming Eden), and Claude Scott-Mitchell.
Joe previously told GQ that while he didn’t get to act with Eric on screen he did see him as a ‘mentor’: ‘He was a bit of a mentor. I was able to ask him about the US market, how he navigated his way through getting roles in Australia and how he began early in his career.’
‘All the young actors were great, but I was particularly thrilled with Joe’s casting’: Eric also praised Joe’s co-stars (Pictured L to R: BeBe Bettencourt, Claude Scott-Mitchell, and Sam Corlett)
One to watch! Joe was named one of the Casting Guild of Australia’s 2019 Rising Stars
‘We felt very protective of how the film should look’: Eric worked hard with director Robert Connolly to create a ‘faithful adaptation of Jane Harper’s novel’
The Dry was filmed across more than 20 regional towns in rural Victoria last year, before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
Eric’s film adaptation of the Jane Harper’s best-selling murder mystery was pushed back from its original August release date due to Covid-19.
Jane herself told Daily Mail Australia at the Sydney premiere in December that the creative team had exceeded her expectations with the film.
The Dry hit theatres on January 1, 2021
Out now: The Dry hit theatres on January 1, 2021