Australian Comedy-Horror 'Bloody Legend' to Begin Production in New South Wales
Australian radio host Yaz Haddad takes the lead in 'Bloody Legend,' a new comedy-horror film inspired by Western Sydney's mythical panther sightings, directed by Susan Taylor and Catherine Stone.
Harry Taruva 
Sydney - Production is scheduled to commence this month in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains for the independent comedy-horror feature, Bloody Legend, a project inspired by the enduring urban legend of the "Blue Mountains Panther."
The film marks the first lead feature role for Australian radio personality and influencer Yaz Haddad, co-host of Sydney’s 2DayFM program Yaz & Feras.
Bloody Legend lead actor Yaz Haddad Photo Credit: Cameron Ghannoum
Haddad, an Australian Film Television and Radio School 2026 (AFTRS) graduate who recently appeared in the upcoming Streetfighter movie, portrays the character Benny, a Western Sydney influencer who attempts to track the mythical predator in a bid for viral fame.
Co-directed by screenwriter Susan Taylor and Catherine Stone, the narrative leverages decades of reported sightings of a large unidentified black cat in the New South Wales bushland.
Local authorities and residents have noted up to 30 sightings annually, including an alleged encounter involving a teenager in 2002.
The production is a collaboration between Thundercat Productions and creative content agency crybaby.
Financing for the project has been secured independently through the producers, supplemented by public contributions via the Australian Cultural Fund.
The cast features a blend of emerging talent and established industry figures, including Hamze Taha and Marcus Trgo in their cinematic debuts.
They are joined by veteran actor Tony Rahme, Natassia Halabi and New Zealand actor Ben Fransham.
The ensemble also incorporates several prominent Australian comedians and digital creators, including Fady Kassab, Cameron James and Dom Littrich.
"I also love that it puts second-generation Australians front and centre, which we don’t see enough of in Australian movies and TV. It’s the kind of movie where if you don’t piss yourself laughing, you might shit yourself when it gets tense! Stated lead actor Yaz Haddad.
"I wanted to make a film in the spirit of those iconic and incredibly original Aussie comedies we all grew up watching," said co-director and writer Susan Taylor.
"I love how hilarious Aussies are, no matter our cultural backgrounds, and the world certainly needs more laughter right now," she said.
Bloody Legend Co-director, Susan Taylor
"On the surface it’s loud and dangerous, but underneath it’s about ego and the cost of chasing validation in a world obsessed with going viral," added co-director Catherine Stone.
"We’re taking a classic Aussie urban myth and giving it scale and bite," she said.
Principal photography will take place across various locations in Western Sydney and the iconic Blue Mountains throughout March 2026.
The technical crew includes cinematographer Rob Norman and First Assistant Director Riley MacKenzie.
