Cannes: Saban Films Nabs Travis Fimmel Vietnam War Film 'Danger Close' (Exclusive)

Directed by Kriv Stenders ('Boxing Day'), the action pic also stars Daniel Webber ('The Dirt,' 'The Punisher').

Saban Films has closed a deal for North American rights to the Travis Fimmel starrer Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan.

Directed by Kriv Stenders’ (Red Dog, Boxing Day), the film also stars Daniel Webber (The Dirt, The Punisher) and marks the biggest budget for an Australian movie in a decade. Aussie actor Fimmel is best known for his starring roles in Warcraft and Vikings.

Based on a true story, the film takes place over the course of an afternoon in August 1966 in South Vietnam. For three and a half hours, in the pouring rain, amid the mud and shattered trees of a rubber plantation called Long Tan, Major Harry Smith (Fimmel) and his dispersed company of 108 young and mostly inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers fight for their lives, holding off an overwhelming enemy force of 2,500 battle-hardened Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers.

The drama was written by Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise), and James Nicholas, Karel Segers, Paul Sullivan and Jack Brislee.

Saban Films is planning a theatrical release for the film, which is being sold worldwide in Cannes by Saboteur Media.

The film was produced by John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz for Deeper Waters Prods., alongside Martin Walsh for Red Dune Films; Beattie, Tony H. Noun, Silvio Salom for SunJive Studios and Andrew Mann.

"This film commemorates such a remarkable story of heroism, ready to be brought to the forefront. We look forward to sharing it with the American audience,” said Saban Films' Bill Bromiley.

Added Saboteur’s Mark Lindsay: “We are thrilled to have Saban Films as our North American distributor. Danger Close pays tribute to all Vietnam war veterans and brings to light the incredible sacrifices these young men endured.”

Danger Close marks the third film picked up by Saban Films during Cannes. The distributor also acquired the Helen Hunt starrer I See You and Bottom of the 9th with Joe Manganiello and Sofía Vergara.

Bromiley and Jonathan Saba negotiated the deal for Saban Films along with Lindsay, David Kennedy and Claire Warnes for Saboteur and Nic Cole on behalf of the filmmakers.