James Rolleston is headlining yet another local movie.
The star of Boy, The Dead Lands, The Dark Horse and forthcoming drama The Rehearsal has been confirmed as one of the leads in the remake of Goodbye Pork Pie.
The film, a reboot of the 1979 road movie which ruled the Kiwi box office, is being directed by Matt Murphy, a son of Geoff Murphy who made the original.
It has just started shooting in Wellington.
Rolleston will be behind the wheel of a updated yellow Mini also carrying Kiwi screen regular Dean O'Gorman and Australian actress Ashleigh Cummings.
Rolleston's character "Luke Anaphora" takes the place of Gerry "Blondini" Austin played by Kelly Johnson in the original.
As "Jon Hardy" O'Gorman subs for Tony Barry's Australian character John from the 1979 film and Cummings' "Keira Leigh-Jones" for Claire Oberman's original hitchhiker, Shirl.
The presence of Rolleston (18) and Cummings (23) suggests the movie will be aiming at a teen market when it is released next summer on both sides of the Tasman.
Cummings' past credits include television series Puberty Blues and young adult movie Tomorrow when the War Began.
O'Gorman said he he was "excited to work with the team to create a film that plays homage to the original while introducing the younger generation to this great Kiwi tale."
Rolleston has been undergoing precision driving lessons for the movie which promises "wild action and chase sequences" as it traverses the country.
"Playing Luke is a dream opportunity for me" says Rolleston. "I love the script and the character and am looking forward to some of the exciting action too!"
Said the film's producer Tom Hern: "Our Blondini Gang will be pretty bloody awesome I reckon."
Read more: The Goodbye Pork Pie remake, what we know so far
Read more: The original stars of Goodbye Pork Pie look back at the making of a Kiwi classic
Read more: Director Matt Murphy on this Goodbye Pork Pie remake plans