Zulu Dawn – we talk to the cast about the shooting of the 1979 epic

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Zulu’s! Everywhere!

The 1964 film ‘Zulu’ launched Michael Caine’s career, depicting the famous defense of Rourke’s Drift by a small British force against Zulu warriors. Directed by Cy Enfield, who was captivated by British-Zulu conflicts, it was planned as the first in a series of three films. However, the second film, ‘Zulu Dawn,’ wasn’t released until 1979. Although it featured a well-known cast, Enfield wasn’t involved in its production, and the planned trilogy was never completed.

The story of Zulu Dawn…

The film Zulu Dawn retold the story of the Battle of Isandlwana, where the British Army faced a strong challenge from the Zulu people. The movie featured a notable cast, including stars like Peter O’Toole and Burt Lancaster, alongside rising talents like Bob Hoskins and a young Phil Daniels. Veteran actors Denholm Elliott, Sir John Mills, Freddie Jones, Simon Ward, and Ronald Lacy (known for his role in Raiders of the Lost Ark) also appeared.

The behind the scenes stories….

James Faulkner starred in and produced the film, alongside David (Dai) Bradley, who was well-known for his performance in ‘Kes’ (1969). It was the most expensive independent British film made at that time. We spoke with both James and Dai about various aspects of the production, including the on-screen rivalry between O’Toole and Lancaster, the casting of thousands of local people as Zulu warriors, Bob Hoskins secretly re-filming his death scene, and numerous unexpected problems that almost caused the film to fail.

Take a look at out chat with James and Dai as we go behind the scenes of Zulu Dawn…

Zulu Dawn Limited Edition will be released on 6th July 2026

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2026-05-17 02:23