The long-awaited film Storm Rider (Gospodar Oluje), directed and co-written by Serbian filmmaker Zoran Lisinac, co-director and screenwriter of the record-breaking domestic hit Toma, together with Croatian director and screenwriter Domagoj Mažurin, will have its global premiere on March 13!
The film’s producer, who worked on the project for 8 years, is also Croatian — Neb Chupin, known for a series of major Hollywood productions featuring stars like John Travolta and John Malkovich. Among the film’s executive producers are two more Serbs, Vladimir Lisinac and Miroslav Mogorović, and the project was supported by the Film Incentive Program of the Republic of Serbia.
American media are already promoting the film as an action-packed sci-fi adventure that promises to shake and redefine the genre.
While we await Storm Rider’s release in over 300 of the largest theaters across the U.S. from March 13, we asked the creators and producers — Zoran Lisinac, Domagoj Mažurin, and Neb Chupin — how this Serbian-Croatian collaboration came about on such a large Hollywood-scale project.
“Los Angeles is actually the only place in the world that can bring together people like us — a kind of creative schizophrenics, and Balkan ones at that. It’s a city where the only true limits are the boundaries of your imagination and madness. In such an environment, people naturally find each other, connect, and start thinking about projects that elsewhere would seem impossible,” Lisinac told Serbian Times. Lisinac is also remembered in Serbian film history as the creator of the acclaimed story of Ljiljana in the blockbuster Toma.
Asked about the challenges of working as co-writers and co-directors, Mažurin smiled:
“Like horns in a sack! Of course, there was a lot of complementing and creative rivalry, which is necessary in any serious artistic collaboration. What always kept us on the same path was our shared love for film and fascination with mythology and ancient Rome.”
FILMIC SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BALKAN MADNESS: Domagoj Mažurin and Zoran Lisinac
Asked about their inspiration for the screenplay — whether from books, films, history, or mythology — Mažurin said:
“Our idea was to try to create a new genre — something we jokingly called calamari sci-fi, a counterpart to spaghetti westerns, and a kind of counterweight to corporate, studio filmmaking. I think we succeeded. We’re bringing something quite special and unique to the market, and a story where truly nothing is impossible.”
Filming locations included the Adriatic coast, as well as Belgrade — Kalemegdan and a tunnel near Tašmajdan. Producer Neb Chupin explained:
“Surprisingly well. All these locations carry layers of history and centuries of secrets, giving them a special character. It fits perfectly with a genre that comments on the distant past, lost civilizations, and what remains indestructible despite time and catastrophes.”
On the use of AI and special effects versus traditional filmmaking, Chupin emphasized:
“We did not use AI. We went out to sea and raced boats in storms on Pag, even when traffic on the bridge was banned. We filmed underwater and did demanding stunts. Today, AI and digital tools could make this faster and cheaper — but this physical authenticity is what sets the film apart.”
ACTION, CAMERA… REVOLUTION! The Serbian-Croatian trio on set
Asked about expectations for the premiere on March 13, Lisinac said:
“We expect the film to have a long life. The theatrical premiere is just the first step — the start of building a global fanbase. The film will then find audiences worldwide across different platforms, VOD, and streaming.”
He added:
“We also expect a strong response from our people in America, worldwide, and in the Balkans. I invite everyone to watch this film, as it holds special meaning and a message for all of us from this region — which viewers will understand when they see it.”
Storm Rider features international stars such as James Cosmo (Game of Thrones), Caroline Goodall (Schindler’s List), Marco Ilsø (Vikings), and Sara Sofie Boussnina (Dune: Sisterhood). Prominent regional actors, including Goran Bogdan, Sergej Trifunović, and Ivana Dudić, also play significant roles.
PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GENRE: Storm Rider in U.S. theaters from March 13, in the Balkans from April 9
The plot of Storm Rider: Three centuries after the Great Flood, the world has scattered into isolated islands, forever exposed to the threat of the vast, endless Storm. The only hope for the Islanders lies in the fortified city-state of Argos — a sanctuary reachable only through dangerous trials. Yet, among them smolders the defiant current of those who believe true salvation lies beyond Argos itself, across the Storm.
The story follows two young rebels determined to break through the eternal Storm, stepping into the forbidden and unknown to uncover the truth of their world — a secret carefully guarded for centuries by the immortal rulers of Argos, the mysterious Founders.
The exclusive Serbian premiere will take place in Belgrade on April 9, after which the film will release in theaters across Serbia through MegaCom Film distribution.
Storm Rider marks the first authentic Hollywood-Serbia co-production, with a clear ambition to position the region as an equal and relevant player on the global film stage. It is also a historic milestone: the first regional film to be screened in over 300 theaters across the United States.
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Source: Antonije Kovačević Foto: Storm Rider Official