Nick Giannopoulos says father’s death made him more determined to bring Wog Boy 3 to the big screen

Original Wog Boy, Nick Giannopoulos, is back for a third instalment of the film after a sudden loss made him determined to bring the project to life.

Vince Colosimo and Nick Giannopoulos in Wog Boy 3. Pic: Anthony Licuria

The original Wog Boy, Nick Giannopoulos, is back with a third instalment of the hit Australian film that put Greek humour on the map.

Giannopoulos has been shooting Wog Boy 3 with an all-star cast in suburbs around Melbourne, following the life of main character Steve 20 years after the comedy first premiered in cinemas.

“It’s amazing how many people have said Wog Boy changed my life,’’ Giannopoulos said.

“This is for the fans more than anything, they keep asking for another one.

“It’s the most often asked question I get when I’m out and about.

“It’s important for everyone in our society to be recognised and all I’m doing is telling our stories and it’s the right time.

“People just want to laugh again.”

Writing the script was a passion project for Giannopoulos who dedicated his free time to it during Covid last year.

He was more determined than ever to bring the project to life after his beloved father Leonidas passed away in January after a short illness.

Vince Colosimo and Nick Giannopoulos in a scene from film 'The Kings of Mykonos: Wog Boy 2'.

“I wasn’t sure if what I was writing was any good and I called up my director and I said have a read and he said mate, ‘it’s great, keep going’,’’ Giannopoulos said.

“Then my dad got ill while I was in the middle of writing the script.

“I read him parts of it and he was laughing and loving it and he said keep going. They’re memories I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.

“It had a huge effect on me because Wog Boy 3 is very much about family and all about the generations who came to the country in the post war era and helped build this wonderful unique colourful vibrant multicultural society.”

In the cast alongside Giannopoulos are original star Vince Colosimo, Home And Away’s Sarah Roberts, Havana Brown, the former LA based DJ who makes her film debut, and comedians Sooshi Mango.

Giannopoulos and Colosimo in front of the Wog Boy Valiant in Yarraville in 2009.

They have been filming in areas such as Fitzroy, Brighton and Wheelers Hill under Covid safe guidelines with the help of Federal Government funding. It wraps at the end of next week.

“In the first Wog Boy film it was clearly spelled out that Steve decided to call himself a Wog Boy because he’d been called that his whole life so that theme continues,’’ Giannopoulos said.

“We pick up 20 years later and find Steve at a very different stage of his life and reminiscing about his journey.

“We have a whole array of cultural backgrounds — we’ve got Indian actors, Italian, Greek and I hope that the film reflects the Australians we are now. It’s got a very important message to tell, what sort of country and society we want to be now.”