Under The Mountain [2009]

The New Zealand Film Commission and Capitol Films are investing in a new feature film to be based on the classic fantasy novel by Maurice Gee. The film, Under The Mountain, is to be the second feature directed by Jonathan King, whose first feature was Black Sheep. It was shot in Auckland in 2008, with creature design and special effects by Weta Workshop.

It is a fantasy adventure about teenage twins who battle dark forces hidden beneath Auckland's volcanoes. "I want to deliver a scary and exciting adventure for teenage audiences," says Jonathan King. "The story will contrast its contemporary Auckland city setting with a fantastic subterranean world beneath."

The producers will be Jonathan King and Matthew Grainger of Index Films Limited and Richard Fletcher of Liberty Films Limited in Wellington. Chris Hampson, Chris Bailey and Trevor Haysom will be executive producers. The new feature has been written by Matthew Grainger and Jonathan King.

The original novel is published in New Zealand by Penguin and has sold more than 70,000 copies since its publication in 1979. In 1982 a television series terrorised and thrilled a generation of kiwis - the filmmakers hope that their new film will do the same to the world.