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Sam Worthington, David Duchovny and Ke-Xi Wu’s ‘The Exiles’ Draws on Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness,’ Director Midi Z Reveals (EXCLUSIVE)
Director Midi Z has said his forthcoming film “The Exiles”, starring Sam Worthington, David Duchovny and Ke-Xi Wu, is partly inspired by Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”. The U.S.-Taiwan production will tell an original contemporary story rather than directly adapting the novel, continuing Midi Z’s longstanding focus on migration, identity and displacement.
The film was also inspired by a real criminal case in Southeast Asia, although further details were not disclosed. It was filmed entirely in Taiwan, with about 90% of its dialogue in English, and has entered early post-production; Midi Z hopes to release it in 2027. He discussed the project while serving on the jury at the Malaysia International Film Festival.
In short
- Midi Z’s “The Exiles” reimagines themes from “Heart of Darkness”.
- Worthington, Duchovny and Wu lead the cast.
- The Taiwan-shot film is targeting a 2027 release.
Explained simply
"The Exiles" is an upcoming film directed by Midi Z, a filmmaker known for exploring themes of migration, displacement and identity. The film stars Sam Worthington and David Duchovny, alongside Ke-Xi Wu, and draws inspiration from Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", a 19th-century novel about colonial exploitation and the corrupting nature of power.
Rather than adapting Conrad's classic directly, Midi Z has created an original contemporary story that engages with similar themes. The film was also inspired by a real criminal case in Southeast Asia, though the details have not been made public. Migration and displacement across borders and nations feature prominently, subjects that have recurred throughout Midi Z's body of work.
The production is a U.S.-Taiwan collaboration filmed entirely in Taiwan, with approximately 90 percent of the dialogue in English. The film is currently in post-production, and Midi Z hopes to release it in 2027.
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