Primitive War, directed by Luke Sparke, arrives in theaters on August 21st. The film stars Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, and Jeremy Piven. It is based on the sci-fi novel by Ethan Pettus and was written for the screen by Sparke.
The movie follows a search and rescue team called “Vulture Squad” in 1968 Vietnam. They are sent into a secluded jungle valley to find a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover that they are not alone. Dinosaurs have been unleashed! As the number of casualties rises, Vulture Squad must embrace their primal instincts to survive.
The cast and crew of Primitive War held a panel at San Diego Comic-Con to discuss the film. Star Ryan Kwanten spoke with Temple of Geek about what audiences can expect.
Interview with “Primitive War” Star Ryan Kwanten
Ryan Kwanten expresses his pride and feels “very blessed” to be at Comic-Con with the independent Australian-made film. He notes that Primitive War is the “first Australian movie to ever be premiered at Comic Con.” The fans and those behind the convention give him “great faith.” Kwanten says that his character is the leader of a recon team. Colonel Jericho sends him to investigate what happened to some missing Green Berets. His team discovers “something far more ominous” than the Green Berets. Also, he mentions there are “a lot of different types of dinosaurs” in the movie. Some of these haven’t been seen in cinema before. He hopes audiences will experience the idea that “we aren’t all that as a species” and that there are things “bigger, but also smarter than we are.”
Q: Ryan, you’re here at San Diego Comic-Con with a movie about battling dinosaurs. What was it like for you to go against dinosaurs in a movie?
Ryan Kwanten: It’s pretty incredible to be here. Primitive War is the first Australian movie to ever be premiered at Comic-Con, and the fact that it’s an independent movie gives me great faith in the people behind Comic-Con and the fans. It feels incredible to see the film have this kind of life already before its premiere.
Q: What could you tell me about your character in this film?
Ryan Kwanten: He’s the leader of a recon team that gets sent out on missions. They’ve just returned from a successful mission, but he’s sent out by Jeremy’s character, Colonel Jericho, to go and see what happened to a bunch of missing green berets. What they end up discovering is not the green berets but something far more ominous.
Teasing the Exciting Expectations from the Film
Q: Being here at Comic-Con and having this Australia-made independent film, what is that like for you?
Ryan Kwanten: Nothing but the utmost pride, and I feel very blessed. The fact that Comic-Con is still thriving like this is beautiful. And to know that movies like this deserve just as much a chance as the bigger tentpole ones.
Q: What are you excited for audiences to experience when watching this?
Ryan Kwanten: The fact that we aren’t all that as a species. There are things out there that are bigger and smarter than we are. Beyond that, just get ready for two hours and ten minutes of heart-pounding action.
Primitive War hits theaters August 21, 2025.
