AceShowbiz - Acclaimed filmmaker Warwick Thornton has signed on to helm "First Warrior", an epic feature that tells the story of Pemulwuy, an Aboriginal resistance fighter who led a 12-year struggle against British settlers in the late 18th century.

Thornton has assembled an all-Indigenous creative team, including writer Jon Bell ("The Moogai", "Cleverman") and writer-producer Andrew Dillon ("Le Champion", "Outliers"). Dillon, a direct descendant of the Dharug and Gomeroi people, will produce the film through his Indigenous First Nations-owned production company, That's-A-Wrap Productions.

The film's script has been penned by an all-star Aussie screenwriting team, including BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Stuart Beattie ("Collateral", "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"), Phillip Noyce ("Rabbit-Proof Fence", "Salt"), and Shana Levine ("The Portable Door", "Charlie & Boots").

Aussie stars Sam Worthington ("Avatar", "Hacksaw Ridge") and Jason Clarke ("Oppenheimer", "Zero Dark Thirty") have joined the project in lead roles. A casting search is underway for the titular role of Pemulwuy.

Thornton, who won the Cannes Film Festival's Camera d'Or prize for his 2009 directorial debut, "Samson & Delilah," said he is honored to be involved in such an important film. "It's an important story with an awesome script and legendary actors," he stated.

Dillon added, "It has been a lifelong goal of mine to have our Indigenous warriors celebrated on the silver screen. I can't wait for audiences to not only experience Warwick's vision for this story but to leave the cinema with a newfound appreciation of Australia's shared history."

"First Warrior" has received support from the Bidjigal, Dharawal, and Dharug Elders.