Actress Cate Blanchett is a producer on this picture which was filmed in South Australia (S.A.). Her first starring role in a theatrical feature film was Parklands (1996) which was also shot in S.A. about just over 25 years earlier. One other person worked on both of these productions. This was her husband, Andrew Upton, who performed duties in the capacities of continuity on Parklands (1996) and producing on 'The New Boy'.
Screen Australia's First Nations Department provided major production investment in association with Screen NSW (New South Wales) and the South Australian Film Corporation. The First Nations Department first backed this project over a number of years whilst it has been in development.
Angela Bates, Screen Australia's Head of First Nations, said: "We are proud to support the masterful Warwick Thornton together with an experienced creative team and talented cast on this film. With a subtle yet powerful script, 'The New Boy' is a genre defying film that explores spirituality, culture and colonization in a way we haven't seen on screen before. I have no doubt it will resonate with audiences around the world."
Christian Vesper, President of Global Drama, at the Fremantle production house, said: "'The New Boy' is a powerful story from the cinematic genius of Warwick Thornton, and we are honored to collaborate with an outstanding group of actors and exceptional creatives to tell this compelling story. We all take this responsibility seriously and acknowledge that the power and success of 'The New Boy' lies in the reclamation of Indigenous narratives and perspectives, where audiences from around the world can reflect and have meaningful conversations about the struggles for survival."
Warwick Thornton first wrote the first drafts of the original screenplay for this feature film over twenty years earlier.