Stan Walker is a man of many talents -- he's a pop star, dancer, X-Factor judge, actor and, as it turns out, a brilliant horseman.
His equestrian skills will take centre stage in his latest foray into acting with The Stolen, a big-time colonial adventure story with a Western feel and Kiwi roots.
The movie, with a US$4 million budget, is currently shooting at locations all over Canterbury, including Christchurch's historical Ferrymead Heritage Park.
It follows an upper-class English heroine, played by Star Trek actress and Hollywood starlet Alice Eve, who is forced to cross rugged mountains on the West Coast of the South Island to rescue her kidnapped baby.
Walker has featured in several movies, including Taika Waititi's record-breaking Hunt for the Wilderpeople, but says The Stolen is "probably the most challenging role" he's ever taken. He plays a "quiet and ruthless" Maori guide who's not afraid to get his hands dirty.
"The physicality for me is foreign; I'm killing and fighting," he says.
"I just honestly have to get into a different zone. I have to become a beast in some way. To become that person is quite difficult sometimes, especially when they're action scenes and we have to learn the stunts."
He had little rehearsal time for the film and is learning on the fly, but enjoys working with the cast, which includes Pirates of the Caribbean star Jack Davenport and fellow Wilderpeople actor Cohen Holloway.
The Canterbury landscapes would amaze audiences, but freezing winter temperatures were still a bit of a challenge.
"Oh my gosh, it's flipping freezing here," he says. "[But] it buzzes me out because it's New Zealand. It feels like we've got the best parts of the world, but it's all in one place.
"There's never been a movie out of New Zealand that's like this. You've got an adventure story; you've got a powerful movie.
"It's coming to life and it's coming to life in a big way, and people are going to be blown away."
Filming is set to continue for another three weeks, with The Stolen likely to be released next year.
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