EXCLUSIVE: Rhombus Media, WTFilms and Canada Company are teaming up on the Afghanistan war film, set to begin shooting in Manitoba in late September before relocating to Jordan.

Paris-based WTFilms is the international sales outside Canada, where Elevation Pictures will distribute. Canada Company will handle Canadian educational rights.

Passchendaele director Paul Gross will helm the project from his screenplay, described as a high-octane tale in the vein of The Hurt Locker and Lone Survivor.

Gross will play a veteran intelligence officer in the story of three men whose lives intersect in the murky world of modern warfare.

The producers will unveil Hyena Road at a breakfast on Saturday (September 6) and expect to announce further casting shortly.

Rhombus Media will produce in association with Buffalo Gal Pictures and Whizbang Films.

Rhombus head Niv Fichman, whose credits include Enemy and Blindness, produces with Gross, Buffalo Gal’s Phyllis Laing, who previously made My Winnipeg, and Passchendaele producer Frank Siracusa of Whizbang Films.

Former Alliance Films CEO Victor Loewy serves as executive producer alongside Mirwais Alizai.

The film will be produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada and Manitoba Film and Music.