‘Smile’ Star Caitlin Stasey & ‘Better Man’ Actor Damon Herriman To Lead Survival Thriller ‘Killing Breed’; Architect Launching For AFM

EXCLUSIVE: Smile breakout Caitlin Stasey and The Bikeriders and Better Man actor Damon Herriman have been set to star in Killing Breed, a survival thriller from actor turned writer-director Matt Day.

Killing Breed pits a family, desperately fighting for survival at an isolated Outback lodge, against a raging bushfire, out of control and consuming everything in its path, and three savage dogs, trained to kill and now unleashed into the wild.

Architect is handling worldwide sales and has launched the film to buyers ahead of the American Film Market. Pic is due to shoot in Australia in May 2025 and was developed with the financial assistance of the South Australian Film Corporation.

Kristian Moliere produces for Triptych Pictures, alongside Grant Hardie, Ian Kirk, and Phil Hunt, as part of a genre slate collaboration between Monster Pictures Studios and Head Gear Films, with Charlie Kemball executive-producing for Head Gear.

Killing Breed’s visual effects will be handled by KOJO (Talk To Me), while Australian animal talent agency Paws On Film, whose credits include The Surfer, Gold, Rogue and Red Dog, will provide trained dogs for the film and manage practical effects on set.

Australian native Day, whose acting credits include series Wolf Creek and Rake and movie Sweet Country, directs from his script, which was developed in collaboration with Monster Pictures Studios, Head Gear Films and Triptych Pictures.

Stasey is best known as the face of box office smash Smile, with recent credits including Amazon series Class of ’07 and FX’s The Mayans. Herriman played Charles Manson in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and features in Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders and Michael Gracey’s Better Man. On his upcoming slate are Amazon series The Bondsman, Warners’ Mortal Kombat sequel, and Fifth Season’s How To Make Gravy.

Day said: “Killing Breed is a character-driven survival thriller grounded in raw, authentic emotion, and I’m beyond excited to have talents like Caitlin and Damon on board to bring this story to life.”

Architect’s Calum Gray noted: “Killing Breed is a classic Scylla and Charybdis story as we find our heroes trapped between a pack of unrelenting killer dogs and an all-consuming bushfire. It has adrenaline inducing action, a ticking clock and a big emotional heart. In short, all the ingredients to wow and thrill global audiences in 2026.”

Stasey is repped by RGM Artists. Herriman is repped by Lisa Mann Creative Management. Day is repped by Shanahan.