Eric Bana Is Back as Aaron Falk in the Tense First Trailer for 'The Dry' Sequel 'Force of Nature'

When The Dry became a massive Australian box-office hit in 2021, it did so with a twisty mystery, a determined detective, stunning Aussie scenery, a spectacular cast and a proven success on the page. Throw that formula together again and you have Force of Nature: The Dry 2, the big-screen sequel that was always going to happen, once again based on a beloved novel by author Jane Harper.

Hitting cinemas in Australia and New Zealand on August 24, and just dropping its first teaser trailer now, Force of Nature sees the core duo of writer/director Robert Connolly (Blueback) and actor Eric Bana (Dirty John) return, with the latter once again playing Detective Aaron Falk. This time, he's investigating the disappearance of a hiker from a corporate retreat attended by five women. Alongside fellow federal agent Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie, Ruby's Choice), Falk heads deep into Victoria's mountain ranges to try to find the missing traveller — who also happens to be a whistle-blowing informant — alive.

Touting its connection to The Dry right there in its name, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 comes after its predecessor did massive ticket-selling business. Not only did it notch up more than $20 million in Australian ticket sales, but it sat in sixth at the annual Aussie box office two years back after Hollywood franchise titles Spider-Man: No Way Home, No Time to Die, Godzilla vs Kong, Peter Rabbit 2 and Fast and Furious 9. Yes, greenlighting this sequel must've been the easiest decision ever. Yes, you can probably expect Harper's Exiles to get the movie treatment next.

Also featuring in Force of Nature, which has a powerhouse list of Aussie talent just like its predecessor: Anna Torv (The Last of Us) as missing hiker Alice Russell, plus Deborra-Lee Furness (Jindabyne), Robin McLeavy (Homeland), Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) and Lucy Ansell (Utopia). Richard Roxburgh (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe), Tony Briggs (Preppers) and Kenneth Radley (The Power of the Dog) pop up, too, while Jeremy Lindsay-Taylor (Heartbreak High) is back in the role of Erik Falk.

Reteaming not just after The Dry, but also fellow 2023 release Blueback, Connolly and Bana make quite the pair when it comes to Aussie crime cinema — with Connolly the producer of one of the best local crime movies ever made, aka 1998's unnerving The Boys, and Bana famously the star of the similarly excellent Chopper.

Can't wait till late August to check out the duo's latest collaboration? Given the timing of that release date, seeing Force of Nature: The Dry 2  pop up as an opening- or closing-night pick at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival wouldn't be a surprise.

Check out the first trailer for Force of Nature: The Dry 2  below:

Force of Nature: The Dry 2 releases in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on August 24, 2023. Read our full review of The Dry.

Images: Narelle Portanier.