Vikings star to attend Anzac Day service ahead of filming

A HOLLYWOOD star is heading to Queensland for Anzac Day today, ahead of filming on a major Vietnam War movie.

Travis Fimmel, who currently stars as Ragnar on the TV series Vikings, will attend a service in Wooroolin.

Fimmel has been cast in the leading role in Danger Close, which will be filmed at a paulownia plantation near the South Burnett township in three weeks.

Eight veterans of the Battle of Long Tan are also set to attend today’s service, and will meet the cast and crew involved in the film’s production.

Among the guests will be Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith, the Officer Commander of D Company, 6th Battalion, which bore the brunt of the fighting during the infamous battle.

Since the battle a number of soldiers penned books about their experience but wasn’t until 2004 the Lt Col Smith and the other platoon commanders leant their voice to record.

“We wrote a book called Long Tan by the Commanders,” Lt Col Smith said.

It is this tome producer Martin Walsh has used for the basis of his movie.

Lt Col Smith said he would not be involved with the movie, nor would he coach the film’s major star.

“I’m not going to give him any advice whatsoever, I’m not going to tell him what to do. The producers can do all that,” he said.

“It’s a movie and bit of Hollywoodisation, I’m sure they’ll throw in a bit of glamour.”