Daisy Ridley zombie film We Bury The Dead is currently taking shape in Albany, Western Australia, with the Star Wars alum stepping into the lead for a WA‑based zombie thriller directed by Zak Hilditch. The project marks a notable shift for Ridley, who has spent much of her career in blockbuster sci‑fi, moving to a homegrown Australian production that leans into a zombie apocalypse tale set against WA’s rugged coastline and inland towns.
The production has anchored itself in a regional setting, featuring a WA crew and a story that unfolds amid small communities facing an extraordinary threat. Ridley’s presence has drawn attention to Albany and nearby areas, where locals have been curious about how the film will translate the zombie genre into an Australian landscape. This is not a global franchise rollout but a home‑grown endeavour that aims to showcase regional WA as a backdrop for high‑stakes horror and character drama.
Filming in WA under Hilditch’s direction underscores a broader push within the Australian industry to blend international‑calibre storytelling with local locations. Ridley’s involvement is seen as a sign of intent to blend mainstream audience appeal with a distinctly Australian atmosphere, leveraging the state’s sun‑bleached coastlines, wind‑swept plains and outback corridors to create tension and suspense on screen. Producers have spoken about the practical realities of shooting in regional Australia, including logistical considerations and the way WA landscapes can contribute texture to a zombie narrative without relying on familiar urban settings.
As the project moves through its production phase, details around the cast beyond Ridley and the specifics of the screenplay remain under wraps. What is clear is that the film is positioned as a genre piece with a strong emotional anchor—relationships and survival in a world that has suddenly turned dangerous. Ridley’s turn from galaxy‑spanning battles to a more intimate, regional horror story has generated intrigue among fans and industry observers alike, who are watching to see how this WA setting influences pacing, mood and character dynamics.
What we know
- Daisy Ridley is the lead in the zombie thriller, titled We Bury The Dead, shot in Western Australia.
- Zak Hilditch directs the project, bringing his experience with Australian genre cinema to the production.
- The film is being produced in Albany and surrounding WA locations, highlighting regional landscapes as a backdrop for the story.
- It is an Australian feature that aims to fuse horror with character‑driven drama set against a zombie apocalypse.
- The project has generated local interest as a notable home‑grown entry into the zombie genre.
The elements above are supported by public notes and industry chatter, which point to a production that values place as much as pace. While Ridley’s involvement and the director’s regional focus are well‑established, the studio’s long‑term distribution plans and festival strategy remain to be announced.
Away from the set, WA audiences and film fans will be paying attention to how this film portrays survival, loss and resilience when a community is pushed to its limits. The collaboration between Ridley and Hilditch is being framed as a cross‑pollination of international star power and local storytelling craft, with the potential to raise the profile of WA cinema on a global stage.
What we don’t know
- Release date and distribution plans are not yet confirmed and may depend on post‑production milestones.
- Full cast list beyond Ridley has not been publicly announced, leaving questions about other leads and ensemble roles.
- Exact plot turns and character arcs remain under wraps, including how the zombie outbreak shapes relationships and outcomes.
- Budget and financing details for the WA production have not been disclosed.
- International release strategy and potential festival premiere timelines are still uncertain.
For now, the film is a talking point in WA’s evolving slate of regional productions, offering a different texture to the Australian industry’s horror offerings. If the project maintains its regional focus while delivering a tense zombie scenario, it could become a compelling example of how Australian cinema can blend local colour with broad audience appeal. As production continues, more details will likely emerge about the cast, the story’s scope and when audiences can expect to see We Bury The Dead on screens.
