Heart, laughs and a Choirboys banger are three takeaways from the first trailer drop of Runt, the big screen adaptation of Craig Silvey’s beloved kids book of the same name. PerthNow was given an exclusive first look at the movie, which was shot late last year in Perth and the Wheatbelt town of York, and stars Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad), Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires), Matt Day (Sweet Country) and comedic powerhouse Celeste Barber. Screen icon Jack Thompson also appears as a villainous landlord, in this story of a young girl, Annie (played by newcomer Lily LaTorre), who tries to save the family farm by entering her rescue dog, Runt, in a famed London dog show.
The role of Runt is filled by real-life rescue dog Squid, and, if the trailer is anything to go by, the pooch has a bright future. Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. “Our amazing animal department searched far and wide, and sourced the incredible Squid, who was in need of rescue, and they swept her up and gave her a home, and now she’s gonna be the most famous dog in Australia,” Silvey told The West Australian.
The trailer reveals the film to be a literal underdog story, as Runt competes against pedigree dogs in agility trials, while also facing the nefarious intentions of an unscrupulous English dog breeder (Day). The award-winning West Aussie author believes Squid has the potential to be top dog at the box office, which would mean unseating hit 2011 family .