- Australian comedy-horror film Bloody Legend to begin filming in Western Sydney and Blue Mountains in March 2026, starring radio personality Yaz Haddad in the lead role
- Film follows a Western Sydney influencer's quest to track down the mythical Blue Mountains Panther to gain viral fame, featuring an almost all-Australian cast
- Co-directed by Susan Taylor and Catherine Stone, the film is inspired by real-life urban legend with up to 30 reported panther sightings annually in Western Sydney
- Production is independently financed through Thundercat Productions and crybaby, with additional funding via the Australian Cultural Fund
- Cast includes newcomers Hamze Taha and Marcus Trgo, alongside established actors Tony Rahme and various Australian comedians and influencers
Filming in Western Sydney, the feature film from Thundercat Productions and crybaby follows an influencer’s hunt for the mythical Blue Mountains Panther.
Immediate Release: 3 March, 2026 — Thundercat Productions and crybaby today announced Australian actor and radio personality Yaz Haddad will be starring in the lead role of “Benny” in the upcoming comedy-horror film Bloody Legend, which is currently in pre-production and will commence filming across Western Sydney and Australia’s iconic Blue Mountains in March.
The co-host of Yaz & Feras on Sydney’s 2DayFM, Yaz Haddad is an AFTRS graduate, influencer and music producer who has worked with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Tyga, T-Pain, Jason Derulo and Kid Laroi. After filming a small part last year in the upcoming Streetfighter movie, Bloody Legend will be his second feature film and first lead role.
Joining the panther hunt as Benny’s best mates in the film are up-and-coming actors Hamze Taha and Marcus Trgo in their big screen debuts, as well as seasoned actor Tony Rahme (Shortland Street), who provides more comic relief while the stakes get higher.
The almost all Australian cast for Bloody Legend gathered for a table read at Philter Brewing in Marrickville, Sydney recently ahead of production commencing in March.
Additional actors include Natassia Halabi (Apple Cider Vinegar), comedians Fady Kassab (I’m So Sorry for Your Loss) and Cameron James (Bump), NZ actor Ben Fransham (What We Do In The Shadows, Time Bandits), Dom Littrich (Inspired Unemployed), Kathleen O’Dwyer (The Lost Flowers of Alice Heart), Will Ward (Housos, Pirates of the Caribbean), Benjamin Cremen (The Artful Dodger S2, Superwog) and comedian influencers Sarah Michaels (Sarah Michaels Show) and Nariman Dein.
Written by Sydney-based publicist turned author and screenwriter Susan Taylor, who co-directs alongside Australian director and crybaby productions co-founder and Creative Director Catherine Stone (Facing The Hangover, MTV Style: Ruby Rose, A Forgotten Love), Bloody Legend follows a wannabe Western Sydney influencer who decides to track down the legendary Blue Mountains Panther in the hopes of going viral and winning back his girl. But when he and his mates become the hunted, he’s gotta decide — is fame bloody worth dying for?
The film is based on an idea by former EP for The Kyle & Jackie O Show, Pedro Cuccovilla Vitola, and is inspired by a real-life urban legend that has frightened and mystified Australian locals for decades. Up to 30 sightings of a large unidentified black cat prowling the Western Sydney bushland are reported every year, with an alleged attack on a local teenager taking place in 2002.
Produced by Susan Taylor and Bianca Austin for Thundercat Productions, in collaboration with Catherine Stone of crybaby, Bloody Legend is being independently financed by the producers with additional fundraising via the Australian Cultural Fund. Sydney-based cinematographer Rob Norman is also on board, along with First Assistant Director Riley MacKenzie.
Bloody Legend star and radio host Yaz Haddad said: “I’m really excited to be leading my second feature film. After reading the script with the cast, I knew this one had something special. It’s raw, funny, tense and feels like the missing piece to Aussie film. I also love that it puts second generation Australians front and centre, which we don’t see enough of in Australian movies and TV. We’ve got a great cast and an amazing team behind the scenes, and I can’t wait to help bring it to life. It’s the kind of movie where if you don’t piss yourself laughing, you might shit yourself when it gets tense!”
Writer and co-director Susan Taylor, Thundercat Productions, said: “I wanted to make a film in the spirit of those iconic and incredibly original Aussie comedies we all grew up watching, and luckily, I found a crew of absolute legends who wanted to jump in and help me do it. I love how hilarious Aussies are, no matter our cultural backgrounds, and the world certainly needs more laughter right now. Bloody Legend is going to be one hell of a bloody good time.”
Co-director Catherine Stone, crybaby, added: “I’ve always been drawn to stories that sit on the edge of chaos - and Bloody Legend absolutely does. Susan Taylor is an incredible writer! And Western Sydney brings an unapologetic, honest and ambitious energy to it, with a sharp sense of humour. On the surface it’s loud and dangerous, but underneath it’s about ego and the cost of chasing validation in a world obsessed with going viral. We’re taking a classic Aussie urban myth and giving it scale and bite. It should feel like a wild ride - you’ll be laughing hard with dips of fear.”
Bloody Legend begins production across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia this month — with further announcements to come.
For media or distribution enquiries, contact: [email protected]
Images: can be downloaded HERE and should be credited to Cameron Ghannoum.
Donate to the film: Visit: australianculturalfund.org.au and search Bloody Legend (all donations in Australia are tax deductible).
Follow Bloody Legend on Instagram: @bloodylegendfilm
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About us:
ABOUT THUNDERCAT PRODUCTIONS
Thundercat Productions is a new Australian film production company founded by Sydney-based publicist turned author and screenwriter Susan Taylor. Bloody Legend is its first feature film which is being produced in collaboration with crybaby productions, and producer Bianca Austin whose career of over 20 years has included work on The Magical Land of Oz, Love On The Spectrum, and many more documentaries and reality TV series.
ABOUT CRYBABY PRODUCTIONS
crybaby productions is a leading Australian creative content agency founded by Catherine Stone and Clare Alstin. Stone’s 20+ career bridges narrative and large-scale broadcast, spanning short films, documentaries, music videos and commercial content, including many years directing longform programming and national campaigns at MTV. As Executive Producer and Director of the Sydney New Year’s Eve online broadcast, she delivered a global audience of 38 million viewers. Bloody Legend marks crybaby’s first feature film and Stone’s return to long form narrative content.
ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN CULTURAL FUND
The Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) is a fundraising platform for Australian artists. Through the ACF, artists upload their project, start their fundraising campaign and invite art lovers and supporters to donate with 100% of donations going directly towards artists’ creative projects. The ACF has helped raise millions of dollars for Australian artists, enabling a wide range of projects to come to life and offering support to Australia’s cultural sector.
Contact details:
For media or distribution enquiries, contact: [email protected]
