First photos of Zac Efron in his South Australian film Gold, shot in Leigh Creek and the Flinders Ranges

He’s one of Hollywood’s sexiest men but you’ll see a very different Zac Efron in his new South Australian film, Gold.

He’s one of Hollywood’s sexiest men but fans will see a very different Zac Efron in his new South Australian film, Gold.

The first photos and trailer from the Outback thriller have been released and they feature a rugged Efron with a badly sunburnt, scarred face and sporting a thick beard.

It’s a far cry from his High School Musical days as the US superstar plays one of two drifters travelling through the desert who stumble upon the “biggest gold nugget ever found”.

South Australian shot Stan Original film, Gold, led by an all-star cast featuring Zac Efron (pictured here) Susie Porter and Anthony Hayes, will premiere January, 26, 2022 on Stan and will be in select cinemas from January 13, 2022. Picture: Ian Routledge

South Australian shot Stan Original film Gold, led by an all-star cast featuring Zac Efron, pictured above, with Susie Porter and Anthony Hayes, will premiere on January 26, 2022 on Stan. Picture: Ian Routledge

Zac Efron in the South Australian shot Stan Original film Gold, which will premiere on January 26, 2022 on Stan. Picture: Ian Routledge

South Australian shot Stan Original film Gold, led by an all-starcast. Pictured here is Zac Efron and Anthony Hayes. Picture: Ian Routledge

The taut thriller, which will premiere on Australia Day on Stan and in cinemas, also stars Susie Porter and Animal Kingdom’s Anthony Hayes. Hayes directed the movie, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth.

His first Australian project, Efron, 34, shot the film in SA’s Leigh Creek and the Flinders Ranges late last year.

Arriving in late November, the Greatest Showman star spent two weeks in the city hanging out at night spots such as Downtown and Cry Baby and enjoying some retail therapy in Rundle Mall, grabbing a pair of R.M. Williams classic Comfort Craftsman boots, before production moved to the Outback.

Before leaving for his Byron Bay base just before Christmas, Efron also got the quintessential South Australian haircut, the mullet, at Kent Town barber Attaboy.

Three months after he wrapped filming on Gold, Efron returned to SA to visit Kangaroo Island, where he shot an episode of his Netflix documentary series Down To Earth.

Dylan Efron with his brother Zac Efron at Kangaroo Island. Picture: zacefron/Instagram

Zac Efron at Kangaroo Island. Picture: zacefron/Instagram

Efron was joined by his brother Dylan for the trip, with the siblings swimming with dolphins and getting up close and personal with local wildlife.

“I’ve never been that close to dolphins, that was mind-blowing. Under water you can hear them talking, communicating … it’s just fascinating, it was really cool,” Efron said in an exclusive video.

“To be with them that close, it just feel like you’re in space or something, I’ve never had an experience like that in my life.

“What a gem of a place, I just love it here.”

Originally published as First photos of Zac Efron in his South Australian film Gold, shot in Leigh Creek and the Flinders Ranges