Australian actor Rose Byrne will be getting prime ministerial for her next role and will dive into New Zealand's darkest day.
The Bridesmaids star has been cast as Jacinda Ardern as she grapples with the aftermath of the Christchurch terror attack.
They Are Us has been written and will be directed by Kiwi Andrew Niccol and is produced by Ayman Jamal, Stewart Till, Niccol and Philippa Campbell.
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It will dive into the aftermath of March 15, 2019 where 51 people were massacred by Brenton Harrison Tarrant when he stormed two mosques during their daily prayer.
Loaded with seven weapons, Tarrant live streamed his attack on social media and carried out New Zealand's worst mass shooting in history.
But instead of focusing too heavily on what happened that day, They Are Us will be an 'inspirational story about the young leader's response to the tragic events'.
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The movie will follow how Ms Ardern tried to heal a broken nation and ban assault rifles in the country. The film's title is based off the Prime Minister's speech where she described the victims of the attack.
Writer and director Andrew Niccol said: "They Are Us is not so much about the attack but the response to the attack...how an unprecedented act of hate was overcome by an outpouring of love and support.
"The film addresses our common humanity, which is why I think it will speak to people around the world. It is an example of how we should respond when there's an attack on our fellow human beings."
But Jacinda Ardern has sought to distance herself from the project and said her office has nothing to do with the project.
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However, the film has been written in consultation with members of the mosques affected by the tragedy.
FilmNation CEO Glen Basner is thrilled to be able to tell this important story and highlight New Zealand and Ms Ardern's resilience during a difficult time.
"We are thrilled to bring to market this inspiring true story about the positive impact, even in the darkest of moments, a strong leader can have on their constituents' lives when they work from a place of compassion, love and an unwavering conviction to do what is right," he said.
While many will know Rose for her hilarious role as Helen in Bridesmaids, her most recent work in the limited series Mrs. America copped critical acclaim.
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